ninehertz

The meeting of minds across the Atlantic, as Mike Vest of Bong, Blown Out and a million others, David Jasso of Psychedelic Speed Freaks and Over-Gain Optimal Death and Dave Sneddon of Doom, Threads and more combine to form Non Violence, for this record out on the ever diligent Riot Season Records.

The label and indeed musicians (Vest in particular) are not unknown for such ventures, but this stands above all that have crossed my path. It is quickly clear too, as Power & Glory gets us underway. There’s the caustic, roughed up, frayed edge psych that will be recognised by anyone familiar with Jasso’s Over-Gain Optimal Death, bolstered by Sneddon’s punk history infused drums and tempered somewhat by the more drawn out cosmic psych guitars of Vest (not that he doesn’t bring his own abrasiveness). The mystical vapours lithely combine and congeal into a single entity, working wonders, a collaboration that elevates all sides rather than clashes or competes.

This is music that is less concerned with losing itself in psychedelic mind-bending jams – as these musicians may be known to dabble in – instead appealing to stoner, doom or even noise rock fans through a more direct and heavier approach, run through with emotional delivery. It is wonderful to behold, feeling alive. There’s beauty in that open and honest approach, most obviously apparent on the gentler God on Godess, but then there’s not a weak track album long.

Global collaborations between like-minded psych-sided souls are not uncommon and frequently interesting, commonly based upon the creation of freeform jams as the easiest manner to cover the disparate locations of the creative elements. Rarely however are they as cohesive as here, which sounds more like a band with years of practice-room built synergy leading to these fully formed songs of rare quality and joy. Despite the vast back catalogues of incredible music across all three musicians this still surprises; it is a superb record.