Psychedelic – Page 4 – 7th Level Music

Gran Moreno release third single from upcoming album due January 16, 2026.

Austin duo Gran Moreno share the final single, “Aztlan” from their forthcoming debut studio album El Sol today on all platforms. The song launched earlier via New Noise Magazine HERE. Hear and share “Aztlan” + 3 previous singles on all DSPs HERE.

The duo play a special hometown album release party in Austin on January 18th at The 13th Floor. Tickets are available HERE.

Gran Moreno emerges as one of the most captivating voices in the new wave of psychedelic rock. With a sound rooted in analog warmth and expansive textures, the Austin-based band crafts songs that feel like sonic mirages — equal parts groove, grit, and atmosphere. Their music lives at the intersection of distortion and introspection, where hypnotic riffs, heavy rhythms, and emotionally charged melodies build immersive landscapes that demand to be felt as much as heard.

At the core of Gran Moreno is a deep commitment to storytelling through sound. Their upcoming album is a conceptual two-part release: Side A: El Sol and Side B: La Luna. Each side represents a different emotional plane — El Sol radiates urgency, energy, and clarity, while La Luna leans into shadow, mystery, and reflection. The first release, El Sol, captures the band at full intensity, delivering a vivid, unfiltered introduction to their evolving identity.

On stage, Gran Moreno transforms their sound into a full-body experience. Their live shows blend sonic power with visual depth, pulling audiences into a shared trance that feels both personal and communal. As they continue to shape their universe with bold creativity and a fierce independent spirit, Gran Moreno isn’t just making music — they’re building a world of their own.

El Sol will be available on LP and download on January 16th, 2026. Pre-orders are available HERE.

GRAN MORENO – LIVE 2026

01/18 Austin, TX – The 13th Floor – album release party

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Dave at US / THEM Group.]

King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard return in 2026 for Fields of Vision II and their only U.S. tour dates of the year.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard announce the return of their festival, Field of Vision II which will take place once again at Meadow Creek in Buena Vista, Colorado on August 14-16. The band will also perform at a three night residency at Forest Hills Stadium in New York on August 20-22. These are the only dates the band are announcing in the US for 2026.

Earlier this year was Field of Vision’s inaugural event (aka Field of Vision I).

“Field of Vision I was so special. Anyone who was there would tell you there was some magic in the air. Or maybe the creek water… So grateful to party with you all again. Love, The Gizzards”

Field of Vision II welcomes Blood Incantation, Die Spitz, DJ Crenshaw, Earth Tongue, Etran de L’Aïr, Folk Bitch Trio, Lisa Bella Donna, Pattie Gonia, and Upchuck. King Gizzard will perform each day. More announcements to come in 2026. Tickets are available here.

Immediately following Field of Vision II, the band will return to their New York stomping ground, aka Forest Hills Stadium, for a three-night residency featuring two full ROCK sets comprised of songs from their impressive 27 album catalogue and a RAVE set on the third night. Tickets for those shows are available here.

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD 2026 TOUR DATES

Friday, August 14 – Sunday, August 16, 2026 – Buena Vista, CO @ Field of Vision II, Meadow Creek (w/ Blood Incantation, Die Spitz, DJ Crenshaw, Earth Tongue, Etran de L’Aïr, Folk Bitch Trio, King Gizzard (every day), Lisa Bella Donna, Pattie Gonia, Upchuck)

Thursday, August 20, 2026 Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
Friday, August 21, 2026 Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
Saturday, August 22, 2026 Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium (RAVE)

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Jacob at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Review: Go Kurosawa – Soft Shakes

If you’re Go Kurosawa, former drummer and singer for psych-kraut-who knows? rockers Kikagaku Moyo, what do you do after your band’s final tour and album? You create an album on which you play and write everything and it becomes Soft Shakes.

It’s a lovely record of Kurosawa exploring his stunning talent to play anything by ear and to create whatever was in his head at the time without having to shape it with other people. “Moon, please” is a fun yet slightly haunting track layered with hand percussion, clarinet, and other stuff hard to define. “Sada no umi” mixes, I think, found sounds with trippy synths and Kurosawa’s vocal sounds.

Both “Soredesho?” and “Green Thing” show us how well Kurosawa can play acoustic guitar and mix them with various hand percussion instruments to create a relaxing effect perfect for zoning out like Kurosawa seems to be on the album’s cover. “Autowalk” is a good example of krautrock / kraut-electro’s influence on Kurosawa. The looping synths, robotic beats, and mantra-like vocals are already cool enough, but when the trumpet hits? Forget it. It’s almost not fair.

“Jungle Cooking” is downright groovy and would fit onto any trip-hop or 1990s rap album you’d like. Cypress Hill could easily drop several bars on this. “Rice Harvesting Day” almost feels Middle Eastern, and Kurosawa’s electric guitar work takes the main stage this time. Is there anything this guy can’t play well? “Cloud Rock” ends the album with a floating groove.

It’s a great solo debut from Kurosawa. I look forward to more.

Keep your mind open.

[Autowalk over to the subscription box before you leave.]

[Thanks to Kate at Stereo Sanctity.]

Top 25 concerts of 2025: #’s 5 – 1

I saw over 50 bands last year, so these five had to bring it to make the top of the list.

#5: Osees – Old National Center – October 22, 2025 – Indianapolis, IN

I’m not sure it would be proper for me to not see Osees at least once a year by this point (or The Black Angels, for that matter). This show was in a small ballroom in the basement of the Old National Center that didn’t have much airflow but did have rock-sold pillars at the four corners of the dance floor / mosh pit. It was a sweaty, loud affair, which is just what you want for an Osees show. They hadn’t played in Indianapolis in a few years, so the crowd was eager to see them — and many hadn’t seen them until that night. They were either shocked or delighted by the end.

#4: King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra – August 09, 2025 – Ravinia – Highland Park, IL

I almost didn’t include this show by King Gizzard (another band I seem to catch every year) because our seats were too far back to see the actual stage. However, this show teaming KGATLW up with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was too neat of a show to pass up and, what put it into the top five, they sounded great. No joke, this is probably the best sound engineering I’ve experienced at a KGATLW show, and I’ve seen many (and all of them are recorded and released by their highly skilled sound crew). I’d never heard them so clear in a live setting.

#3: TV on the Radio – September 27, 2025 – Levitation Austin – Austin, TX

I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to see TVOTR live, so I was bouncing when my suspicions were confirmed and they were booked for Levitation Austin. The show was everything I’d hoped for — high energy, great sound, and powerful messages. It felt like a blessing to see them after so many years without a tour.

#2: Nine Inch Nails – August 20, 2025 – United Center – Chicago, IL

Here’s a show I almost didn’t attend because the first night at Chicago’s United Center sold out so fast that I couldn’t get tickets. Luckily, Trent Reznor and his pals decided to book another show the following night and I scored tickets for that. The set included three different stages, great new versions of classic tracks, new tunes, and NIN looking and sounding like they’d never taken a break to make Oscar-winning film music.

#1: Underworld – May 17, 2025 – Radius – Chicago, IL

Here’s the other band I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to see live. They don’t make many trips to the U.S., and the closest they’d come in recent years was Detroit (four hours from where I live). Seeing them in a relatively small venue half the distance away was an immediate priority, and then I learned they were playing two sets with no opening act. It was a stunning performance that had everyone jumping for hours with only a short intermission and left everyone floating by the end.

Who do you want to see this year? I’m already looking forward to catching The Hives, Dry Cleaning, LCD Soundsystem, Gary Numan, Failure, Shame, Alison Krauss, and (of course) Osees, not to mention a return to Levitation Austin. Levitation France is taking a hiatus this year, so perhaps Austin Psych Fest will take its place?

Keep your mind open.

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Top 25 albums of 2025: #’s 5 – 1

This is always a tough decision, although my number one album of each year tends to arrive early and not leave. This trend continued in 2025.

#5: Sextile – yes, please.

Thrilling electro, sexy bass, erotic lyrics, club bangers, provocative cover, you name it, this album has all of it. It shot up into my top ten of the year as soon as I heard it and was one of the hottest records of 2025.

#4: Lonnie Holley – Tonky

Beautiful, soulful, and powerful, Tonky has soul legend Lonnie Holley encouraging us to all come together in turbulent times, “protest with love,” and embrace our neighbors. This is an album that rings true in any year, but we needed it in 2025.

#3: No Joy – Bugland

I hadn’t heard anything from No Joy in a while, so it was great to hear from them again and with such a good record. It mixes shoegaze with psych and pays tribute to the healing properties of nature and presence. I didn’t realize how much I missed No Joy until hearing this.

#2: DITZ – Never Exhale

These fiery post-punk Brits seemed to come out of nowhere (to this Yank, at least) and unleashed one of the loudest, wildest records of the year. The album is about anxiety and panic, but it never goes completely off the rails. It keeps you on the edge of your seat or helps you burn off aggression, depending on which track you blast.

#1: Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Death Hilarious

As soon as I saw that album cover, I knew Death Hilarious was going to be a monster of a record. My gut was right. This is another heavy stunner from Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs in a line of material that has yet to miss. The topics of loss (friends, creative energy, relationships) and satire are biting and empowering. You’ll growl, stomp, and roar along with this record. You’ll laugh at the absurdity of our times with it, and then dive into the mosh pit with glee.

There’s already a lot of good stuff lined up for 2026. Let me know what you’re looking forward to the most!

Keep your mind open.

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Review: Tombstones in Their Eyes – Under Dark Skies

“The songs on this album were driven by the desire to come back from a complete mental breakdown.”

That’s a quote from Tombstones in Their Eyes‘ guitarist and vocalist John Treanor in the notes sent to me along with their newest album, Under Dark Skies. The opening riff of the title track blasts you with power and then Treanor’s lyrics like “Give me hope because I can’t find it. Give me truth so that I can deny it.” hit even harder.

“You Never Have to Love Me” is a plea for intimacy during a time when true connection is cast aside for digital, ephemeral feelings. “The Beginning” is a big, bold instrumental track with subtly groovy drumming by Stephen Striegel. “Sick So Sick” is a great title to sum up how tired everyone is of everything right now.

“Alive and Well,” on of the singles from Under Dark Skies, almost didn’t make the cut because one of the band’s guitarists, Paul Boutin, who played on it and other tracks, died from cancer in October 2025. TITE initially were not going to release it as a single, but remembered it was one of Boutin’s favorites and the lyrics about resiliency and moving forward instead of getting stuck carried even more meaning after his death. It’s a solid track, with Boutin’s guitar work shining throughout it.

The heavy psychedelic guitars on “I’m So Happy Today” and the slight eye-roll to the vocals add a bit of sarcastic dark humor to the record. You’re never quite sure if Treanor and co-vocalists Courtney Davies and Clea Cullen ever really mean it. “I See You Looking Out My Door” instantly reminded me of some of The Smithereens‘ heavier tracks. The guitar riffs are a nice blend of psych-rock and garage-rock.

“I’ve been avoiding myself for too long,” Treanor sings at the beginning of “You Can Run.” You can run from what’s bringing you grief, stress, misery, or even just exhaustion, but you won’t get far for long. You have to be present with it. It’s the only way to “find a way out,” as Treanor says.

“Better Somehow” is a twisting, winding track that feels like incense smoke coming from a sound booth at the back of a small rock venue while TITE blast you from the stage with waves of sound. The album ends with a heavy one – “Take Another Piece of Me.” Nic Nifoussi‘s bass growls and prowls around like a dangerous wolf as Paul Roessler‘s keyboards add almost a gothic-gospel sound to it.

It’s another good record from TITE, and I’m intrigued by the second album in a row with a nautical-themed cover (Asylum Harbour being the first). The band went through rough seas in the last couple years to be certain and Under Dark Skies helps them, and us, navigate them.

Keep your mind open.

[I’ll be under dark skies until you subscribe.]

[Thanks to Shauna at Shameless Promotion PR.]

Top 25 concerts of 2025: #’s 10 – 6

So…many…concerts. They’re my favorite way to spend my paychecks, really. Which were among the top ten I saw last year? Read on, my friend.

#10: Frankie and The Witch Fingers – September 28, 2025 – Levitation Austin – Austin, TX

FATW never disappoint live. This set at Levitation Austin felt like they were playing in a hurry in the best possible way. They wasted no time on the stage and had the whole place going bonkers the entire time.

#9: Kadavar – June 27, 2025 – Levitation France – Angers, France

I hadn’t seen Kadavar since they played at the first Austin Psych Fest I attended back in 2013. They even mentioned how they hadn’t played a Levitation festival since then. They sounded great and played a great showcase of their evolving sounds from doom metal to psych-rock.

#8: The Limiñanas – June 28, 2025 – Levitation France – Angers, France

Speaking of great shows in France, seeing The Limiñanas on their home turf was the top priority for me at Levitation France last year. It was a great set that even included a cover of The Cramps’ “TV Set.” I still don’t know why they didn’t close the night and the festival. That honor went to Boy Harsher, who did a fine job, but The Limiñanas were a tough act to follow.

#7: Castle Rat – September 26, 2025 – Levitation Austin – Austin, TX

If you’re looking for a band to open your festival, you can’t do much better than Castle Rat because they set such a high bar on Day One of Levitation Austin that all the other bands that day were scrambling to catch up to them. The set included a swordfight with the Grim Reaper, a resurrection performed by a Plague Doctor (the bassist), and an eternal quest to keep a book of souls from an evil wizard. The line at their merch booth was at least twenty minutes long for several hours afterwards.

#6: Viagra Boys – September 17, 2025 – The Salt Shed – Chicago, IL

The last time I saw Viagra Boys at the Salt Shed, it was at a sold-out show inside the main building. This time it was a sold-out show on the exterior stage and it was just as bonkers. People in shrimp costumes, custom Shrimptech jackets, and wiener dog shirts were everywhere. They sounded wild and weird, which is exactly what you want from them.

Who’s in the top five? Two longtime favorites, a reunion tour I almost didn’t get to see, and two bands I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to see live. Come back tomorrow!

Keep your mind open.

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Top 25 albums of 2025: #’s 10 – 6

Here we are at the top ten albums I reviewed last year. The choices get tougher as the numbers get lower. Let’s get to it.

#10: The Limiñanas – Faded

A salute to forgotten models, actresses, singers, and to lost friends, Faded is another solid album from the French psych-rock duo. It has all the elements you want from The Limiñanas – wild guitars, heartbeat drums, smoky vocals, and a sense that they’re re-creating something you’ve forgotten.

#9: Blackwater Holylight – If You Only Knew

It was great to get a new recording from Blackwater Holylight last year (and a new full-length album is already on the way), and If You Only Knew marked a turn toward shoegaze for them. I’m all for it. The heavy guitars and deep, often sad lyrics are still there. Perhaps doom-gaze is a better description of it. Then again, why bother describing it? Just let overwhelm you.

#8: Frankie and The Witch Fingers – Live at KEXP

I’ve been waiting for a live Frankie and The Witch Fingers album for a little while, and this recording of a raw, raucous show for KEXP didn’t disappoint. It’s difficult to capture their live show energy, but they did it. The fact that they open the show with “Brain Telephone” (an oldie) makes it even better.

#7: Roi Turbo – Bazooka EP

This, simply put, is the best house music record I heard all last year. It makes you crave a longer record. These guys are having a lot of fun and thankfully they invited us to the party.

#6: Joe Alterman & Mocean Worker – Keep the Line Open

This jazz-funk-trip-hop record is a delight from start to finish as pianist Joe Alterman and producer / DJ Mocean Worker pay tribute to funky legend Les McCann. Every song is highly danceable and will brighten any time of day.

Up next, the top five, which includes two welcome returns, another legend, electro upstarts, and brash post-punks!

Keep your mind open.

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Sunset Images releases new single from upcoming album with Dedstrange Records.

DEDSTRANGE’S NEWEST ADDITION TO THE DEDSTRANGE FAMILY, MEXICO’S NOISE ROCK TRIO, SUNSET IMAGES

RELEASES THEIR SECOND SINGLE, “EL TIEMPO OSCILA Y MUERE AL INCIO (TOMMY)”, OFF OF THEIR UPCOMING ALBUM ‘OSCILADOR’ AND IT’S OUT NOW EVERYWHERE!!!

Sunset Images‘ “El Tiempo Oscila y Muere Al Inicio (Tommy)” is a sprawling, motorik dirge that explores humanity’s self-destruction. A bruised and distorted bassline throbs like a wounded soul, as hypnotic guitars swirl & feedback in the distance, conjuring visions of a world ravaged by toxic masculinity and patriarchy. This is a song about the abyss that awaits, how we cannot escape the passage of time & how it will ultimately consume us.

Out Now On Dedstrange.

PURCHASE THE SINGLE HERE

STREAM THE SINGLE HERE

SUNSET IMAGES’

UPCOMING ALBUM

‘OSCILADOR’

OUT JANUARY 23RD, 2026

Noise-rock dissonant ferocity meets industrial mechanical precision.

‘Oscilador’ is a sound reflection of the perpetual cycle that rules our world’s history: birth, decay, chaos and resolution. Fueled by the collision of fractured synths, pulsating vocals, primitive drum beats and feedback-drenched guitars, creating an aural landscape that’s both disorienting and irresistible. Get ready to be consumed by Mexico City’s Sunset Images’ latest pursuit of sonic resistance. An album that’s brutal, raw and honest, yet accessible, chaotic and beautiful, like the world itself.

“Oscilador” will be out January 23rd 2026 on Dedstrange, record label owned by the visionary mind of the band “A Place to Bury Strangers” and FX pedal company “Death By Audio”

Pre-Order the Limited Edition Pink Vinyl now at your favorite local record store.

PRE ORDER ONLINE HERE

*** UPCOMING TOUR DATES ***

Sunset Images 2026 – New Colossus Festival

March – New York City, NY – United States

03.05 – Dedstrange Party

03.07 – Dedstrange Party

Sunset Images 2026 European & United Kingdom Tour

April

04.02 – St Leonard’s @ The Piper

04.03 – Leicester @ The International

04.04 – Cardiff @ Cardiff Psych & Noise Fest

04.09 – Todmorten @ TBD

04.10 – London @ Strongroom Bar

04.11 – Bristol @ The Crofters Rights

04.14 – Rouen @ Le 3 Pieces

04.15 – Rennes @ TBD

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Steven at Dedstrange.]

Top 25 concerts of 2025: #’s 15 – 11

More great live shows for you from last year! Who’s in the top half of the list?

#15: Johnny Jewel – September 25, 2025 – Levitation Austin, Austin, TX

Mr. Jewel opened for his own band, Desire, and, for my money, put on the best show of the night at the first day of Levitation Austin last year. It was a showcase of his film scores and covers of other film music ranging from his score to Drive to a David Lynch tribute and giallo-horror tracks.

#14: The Black Angels – September 28, 2025 – Levitation Austin – Austin, TX

The Black Angels always play Levitation. It’s their festival, after all. They help curate it. It was another fine set from them that included many tracks they don’t play often – one of the advantages of not having to promote a new album.

#13: Yin-Yin – September 27, 2025 – Levitation Austin – Austin, TX

These Dutch funk-rockers played their first gig in the U.S. ever at Levitation Austin last year and had the entire place jumping by the end of it. This was easily the grooviest show of the entire weekend, and everyone was buzzing the rest of the day afterwards.

#12: DITZ – June 27, 2025 – Levitation France – Angers, FR

This was blistering post-punk in a heat wave that had gripped almost the entire county. You can see the dust being kicked up from the mosh pit in that photo due to the arid conditions of the park in Angers where Levitation France took place last year. The lead singer had run off-stage, into the nearby lake, and returned covered in seaweed by the end.

#11: A Place to Bury Strangers – September 28, 2025 – Levitation Austin – Austin, TX

The Palmer Event Center in downtown Austin, where Levitation Austin took place last year, is a big venue…and it still wasn’t big enough to keep the volume of APTBS from flattening you as soon as you entered the place. Lead singer and guitarist Oliver Ackermann used the high ceiling to his delight by tossing his now-famous “half-guitar” sky high multiple times. Two friends who’d never seen them until now were left stunned by the end. “That’s like an assault,” my friend Wes said, wide-eyed and not knowing how else to describe it.

Who’s in the top ten? Come back tomorrow!

Keep your mind open.

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