Album Review: Psychlona’s ‘Warped Vision’ elicits the distinct clarity of a band on a steep upward trajectory

UK stoner rock giants, Psychlona are set to release their fourth long-player, Warped Vision in the coming days, with the album set to cement them into the upper echelons of the international ‘desert-rock’ scene.

Welcoming two new members into the band following the surprise departures of Martyn Birchall (bass) and Dave Wainfor (guitar) due to family commitments, Phil Hey (guitar/vocals) and Scott Frankling (drums) have found the addition of Martin Wiseman on lead guitar and Ian ‘Izak’ Buxton on bass duties has not dented the progress of the band in producing what is arguably their best work to date.

For the uninitiated, Psychlona are a four-piece guitar, bass and drums outfit hailing from the northern reaches of Bradford who have embraced the sounds of their heavy-rocking forebears in Black Sabbath, Motorhead and Hawkwind and fused them with the modern ‘desert-rock’ of bands such as Kyuss and Sleep, and even tinged it with the psychedelic influence of legends such as Pink Floyd. The heady mix of metal, stoner, psychedelic and even a hint of punk make Psychlona a force to be reckoned with.

Already possessing a fabulous three album back-catalogue (2018’s Mojo Rising, 2020’s Venus Skytrip and 2022’s Palo Verde) Warped Vision sees Psychlona gently nudging (and sometimes bludgeoning) the boundaries of their sound, while remaining faithful to their already-established style.

Once ‘play’ has been hit on Warped Vision, a drum-led introduction accompanied by a slack-stringed and pounding bassline announces opening track, Jasmine, as it sets about reassuring long-time fans and new listeners alike that they are about to be hit by an aural assault which typifies the sound which Psychlona have become known for across their entire tenure – that of riff-laden, heaving grooves which demand the attention and adulation of their head-pumping, horn-fist raising followers.

Let’s Go is up next, and yet again adds to the fact that Psychlona are completely on song in delivering their fiery brand of heavy riffing (along with a superb, incendiary lead solo in this case).

Smoke changes pace with a somewhat introspective feel and ‘clean’ sonic palette in the first half of the track, before evolving (or is that devolving) into a heavily-distorted and completely more familiar ‘psychlonic’ blitzkrieg of guitars and drums.

This leads into Cut Loose, which sees the band deliver its’ heaviest track, and most metal-based, of the album.

A doom filled Topanga shows some of the subtle sonic changes that have evolved with the new lineup, while Kaleidoscope, an epic, chameleon of a track, furthers the expansion of the directions and influences the band have successfully incorporated into their music.

Penultimate track, Split, showcases the psychedelic edge that Psychlona have possessed in spades throughout their career, with Phil Hey’s echo-tinged vocals taking centre stage, backed by a wonderfully spaced-out intro which slowly transforms into a chugging riff highlighted by the almost chime-like guitar work of both Hey and Wiseman.

If there is a single track on this superb album which epitomizes the growth and future directions of Psychlona, for mine, it is in the albums closing track, Magic Carpet. Magic Carpet takes the listener on a ride through everything that make this album a winner – Floydian vocals (read David Gilmour), a dreamlike opening which morphs into a journey through both the light and the dark, characterized by solo breaks and dual guitar attacks reminiscent of the heyday of Thin Lizzy followed by the monster riffing we have come to expect from the band along with the pounding rhythm which drives the back half of the song.

Warped Vision is a magic ride; a ride which is filled with the glory of a band at its’ creative best. The overall sound is visceral, and radiates through your body and mind like a sonic blaster. Just as you relax into its’ quieter, and finessed musical moments, it explodes into out-and-out rock and roll nirvana. An album for the ages!

Warped Vision is released on Friday, 27th September via Magnetic Eye Records and can be ordered online on CD/LP and/or digital download on the band’s Bandcamp page here.

Featured Image : Jonny Hunter