Sublunar Express is a band originally from Montreal, Quebec formed in 2017, offering a blend of Krautrock, Stoner, and Atmospheric Rock among others. The third and new full-length “Peeling The Horizon” was released on December 01, 2024 and contains 6 tracks between 5 and 9 minutes in length in which some guests participate. The opener “Bossa Noire” features Vagho Adamyan on Duduk and Sam Hampell on Saxophone, and is also the longest track on the album, at i8:45 in duration. An extended intro slowly immerses us in the track’s sounds, creating atmospheric and lysergic atmospheres, with a repeated and hypnotic bass line. The track develops with an elaborate rhythm section and the guitar playing the lead role in both riffs and solo textures, with the song increasing in intensity in the crescendo ending. Shoegaze sounds permeate “Jaws of the Valley,” another long track that combines modern psychedelia with the band’s personal touch. The guitar is the protagonist throughout the track with distorted melodies over which an enveloping, effects-enriched vocal is inserted. The rhythm section is solid and elaborate, and ethereal atmospheres and layering characterise the track. Between rough riffs and effects modulations the band takes us to the finale, exploring the shoegaze side of their sound. Blade-sharp guitar work characterises “Apotheosis,” with a dark spoken vocal and a killer bassline that allows the song to develop and with a change evolve the theme. A mixture of Heavy Psych, Shoegaze and an elaborate structure with references to Prog and a massive dose of Experimental sounds. An elaborate track with original traits, with an intense guitar solo in the final instrumental section. “Night Tortoise” is so far, the heaviest track on the album, with the guitar taking centre stage for the entire duration of the track. Long instrumental textures that incorporate Heavy Psych elements to the shoegaze imprinting of the track, through cleverly utilised layering and modulations. The band is adept at creating mixes that allow them to contaminate the sound just enough to create passages that are always original. The album’s shortest track, “Feral Sanction,” has an engaging sound, with an ever-changing structure and full of continuous tempo changes. The choral vocal interprets the lyrics with dynamism, while musically, the track sees the guitar as the protagonist in the second part of an interesting solo that accompanies us at the end. The tracklist concludes with ‘Ritual,’ a track permeated with heavy guitar riffs and a raw sound closer to Rock And Roll with references to the sounds of the second half of the 1970s. The band skilfully brings the sounds of the past into a personal and modern context, an operation that is also successful in other passages of the album. The vocals are incisive and the rhythm section solid and elaborate. A band that shows its aptitude for developing intense tracks that interweave Shoegaze, Krautrock and Psychedelia with forays into heavy sounds. A good listen for lovers of the genre, full of elaborate passages and a rich dose of layering and modulations thanks to a skilful use of effects.
Tracklist
01. Bossa Noire (08:45)
02. Jaws of the Valley (06:44)
03. Apotheosis (05:19)
04. Night Tortoise (05:49)
05. (04:51)
06. Ritual (06:50)
Lineup
Denis Dufour / Guitars, Vocals
Daniel Paras / Bass, Vocals
Emmanuel Heis / Drums
Featuring:
Vagho Adamyan on Duduk (Bossa Noire)
Sam Hampell on Saxophone (Bossa Noire)
Souad Hammami on Vocals (Jaws of the Valley)