Album Review: US psych-rockers, King Buffalo to release Regenerator, the 3rd of a trio of albums written in Covid-19 lockdown.

New York-based trio King Buffalo will release their fifth full-length album and the 3rd of their ‘pandemic trilogy’, Regenerator on the 2nd September, 2022.

Following on from the two releases in 2021, Acheron and The Burden of Restlessness, the intervening period has seen the band release three pre-release singles, and will have, by the time the album drops, seen them complete a full North American tour, along with a UK and European tour.

This seven track gem of an album opens with the sonically pounding title track (and first single) Regenerator, and at nine and a half minutes long, is an outstanding, and epic introduction for those who remain uninitiated to the band’s style and sound. Bass player Dan Reynold’s daringly progressive and rhythmic fretboard wanderings are beautifully combined with the muscular and motorik drumming from Scott Donaldson, and whole-heartedly underpin the sublime atmospheres created by guitarist/synth player and singer for the band, Sean McVay.

Next track, Mercury is a classic, textured King Buffalo song that pulses its’ way onto the third track (and second single) from the album, Hours, that literally bursts from the speakers with an almost punk rock-like intensity, and is an out-and-out rocker which I can see being the perfect accompaniment to a long drive on the highway.

Interlude provides just that – a period of atmospheric, musical respite which leads into another melodic highlight, Mammoth, which sees the band honing its’ evolving sound, while McVay provides one of his finest-ever, seering guitar solos in this six minute masterpiece.

The pulsating Avalon continues to showcase the light and dark in King Buffalo’s newest recording, with delicate keyboards taking more of a centre-stage and propelling the song through to the album closer.

Firmament, another nine minute epic, is the consummate closing track as it meanders gracefully through its’ first six minutes before blooming into the powerful riffing that is so known and loved by the band’s fanatical and loyal fanbase. The song provides a fitting end to an album which ties together the band’s ever-evolving sound from across its’ burgeoning catalogue of heavy psychedelic rock.

Regenerator is an album of wonderful light and shade, and is a testament to the growth the band have been able to continue to generate across the entirety of their superb catalogue as well as being a fitting final chapter to this magnificent pandemic trilogy. This is a band who are certainly at a creative high point in their nine year career, and their light continues to burn brightly with this release……who knows how much higher in the stratosphere they can climb?

Regenerator is out on the 2nd September, and can be purchased on vinyl/CD on Stickman Records here or as a digital download (along with the band’s back-catalogue) on Bandcamp here.

Feature Image: As supplied