ninehertz

Steinsopp’s self-description on bandcamp is worth copying out in full – “Dirty norwegian groovier-than-thou psychedelic neanderthal amp worshipping sabbath drenched mushroom rock 'n' roll” – because if that doesn’t make you want to check them out then nothing will.

They’ve been around a while, several releases dating back to 2015, but shamefully this is my first encounter with them. It won’t be my last. Goloka Sessions is an absorbing, dense and ultimately fun album, musically as described but with a skill and deft touch that illuminates it above the heavy psych standard.

Sunslung, the first song proper, is acid-drenched heavy psych fuzz jam goodness – you normally need to absorb and let it kick in with this music but it only take a few seconds to be in love with this, the sound they get, the vibes are perfect, like the best of stoner and psych and the rock end of doom under a cosy blanket of the thickest fuzz you can imagine - this is special.

Even in the album's least interesting moments have a sense of wandering jam coolness to it. And there are highlights aplenty. Superdroid has a slight Om tilt with its repetition, but with some more flowery psych warmth coming through, whilst Quasar’s loose and free jams bottom out with a nice and heavy bass – bringing a feeling (if not exact musical match) similar to that of listening to Earthless. It is glorious, especially as it keeps going and once again I’m in love with it by its end.

This is a joyful album, a reminder of heavy psych and stoner rock can still produce records that feel like a celebration.