The Freak Folk of Mangrovia is a Croatian band that blends Heavy Psych, Stoner and Space Rock sounds in a modern and fresh style. The new album “Tales from Beyond the Firmament“‘ was released on June 28, 2024 via No Profit Recordings and contains four full-length almost instrumental tracks with two guest appearances. An atmospheric intro and enveloping sounds characterise opener “Astral Nomads,” developing over the minutes into a song with more heavy overtones. Heavy psych sounds permeate the track, with the band adept at offering variations on the central theme for the entire duration, in which they enhance their compositional and performing technique. Between granitic riffs, deep, load-bearing bass lines and granitic drumming, the guitar also offers valuable work in the solo inserts. “Dancing in the Dunes” as the title suggests, transports us through the desert in the first part, returning with a change to more heavy sounds with massive guitar riffs. A sound that weaves together the different genres that characterise their style, with well-constructed riffs, a dynamic and incisive vocal and well-crafted tempo changes. A killer bassline characterises the rhythm section, which together with solid drumming add power to the sound. In the finale, the guitar offers a solo insert, the sound becomes darker and the track ends. The album’s shortest track “Cosmic Druids,” which is nevertheless over four minutes long, opens with an atmospheric, effects-enriched sound. Towards the middle of the track, the band unleashes all its power, offering a tight Heavy Rock with another killer bassline and lead guitar. The final epic track “Unveiling Empyreal Runes” concludes the album, clocking in at over 13 minutes and exploring the different facets that characterise its style. Heavy, well-constructed riffs, powerful and deep bass lines flesh out the sound and solid, elaborate drumming. Here too we find the vocals, dynamic and expressive and fitting best into the musical context of the track. In the middle section, the band offers an extended instrumental section of lysergic Psychedelia. The intensity increases as the minutes go by and the band returns to vocals for the last verses and the more heavy sound that characterises them, taking us to the finale. A good record release that confirms the good things previously heard from this band. The mixture of psychedelia, heavy sounds and forays into modern stoner are well accomplished and permeate the album. A mature, straightforward album, but at the same time with refined and more Psychedelic passages that enrich the tracklist. A recommended listen for all lovers of the heavier sounds of Psychedelia, fresh and modern and in line with today’s releases in the genre, without ever losing their personal touch.
Tracklist
01. Astral Nomads (09:08)
02. Dancing in the Dunes (07:19)
03. Cosmic Druids (04:46)
04. Unveiling Empyreal Runes (13:18)
Lineup
Lena Crnković / Drums, Percussions
Dina Ivas / Bass
Ivo Juričić / Guitar
Luka Kiseljak / Guitar, Synthesizers
Guest Musicians:
Vedran Župarić / Vocals on “Dancing in the Dunes“ and “Unveiling Empyreal Runes“
Vladimir Tomić / Additional Lead Guitars on “Unveiling Emypreal Runes“
