ninehertz

Upon entering the studio to record their next album, Amon Acid warmed up by leaning into a series of jams that reside outside of the sound that they have become known by. The Leeds four-piece have become a staple of gigs around the country, recognisable from several releases that are firmly within the doom boundaries, with touches of the occult side made present alongside a psychedelic glaze.

The session appears to have sparked something within them, and such was its success they came out with two albums, Ikaros capturing five jam tracks and released before the album “proper”. This is a record that significantly dials down the doom and, in their own words, pays homage to acid folk and Krautrock bands of the 70s.

It begins with the fifteen-minute Aman Ariman, acid drenched, almost Indian raga in style, relaxed in delivery and relaxing in its powers. It is instantly clear it certainly is a change to their usual sound and more interesting because of that. It has a mystical energy to it, and the odd heavier riff that provides a variable density.

Melead follows with a psych-folk narrative aided by some interesting extra-curricular instrumentation popping out of the mists, a kinship with the recent output from Crumbling Ghost. The sweet-smelling smoke-filled airs of exotic mysticism housed within Labyrinth are of pure 60s acid psych, aided by light bells, and floating serenely at ceiling height.

They change up once more on Grazer, which has a bar room blues bluster to it, a stomping guitar claiming the ground around it with a sneer and snarl in the vocals. While it may be louder and brasher than the tracks before it, in some ways it feels even further from Amon Acid’s base than any. The title track closes, a cosmic vista laid out through synthesisers and a gentle beat takes us into the Krautrock realms, acting as a soothing elixir.

I wonder if they’ll think of playing some shows in this style, for this is a success that I would love to see in the flesh. Bravo Amon Acid – it is rare to see a band dare to change their style to such a degree; even rarer to then find it as highly enjoyable as here.