Golem

This LA-based heavy psych quartet’s second album in seven months (?!? They’re even outdoing Thee Oh Sees.) is just as epic and face-melting as their debut. It sounds similar—tons of squealing, sludgy guitars and hyper synths and reverb-heavy vocals that I can’t easily make out but lead me to think the lyrics are probably about something like fending off gorgons or climbing Mount Doom. RIYL Black Sabbath, Ty Segall (Ty released their first album), Tame Impala. Favorites: 3, 4, 5, 9. No FCCs.

1. (2:29)—Quiet beginning. Slow, trudging, spacious, abrasive.
2. (3:49)—Fast, crunchy, compressed. Pretty then heavy breakdown.
3. *(3:41)—Mid-tempo, pulsing, dark.
4. *(4:11)—Slow, tender, pretty. Lots of slow wah-wah guitar.
5. *(4:12)—Mid-tempo, funky, melodic. Picks up in the second half.
6. (3:46)—Slow, upbeat, in 6/4 time, with lots of drum fills. Long droning outro.
7. (3:08)—Fast, spastic, with lots of sci-fi sound effects.
8. (6:36)—Slow, plodding, dark. Really crazy electronic interlude.
9. *(6:37)—Majestic, no drums. Droning, deep, distorted guitar. Be prepared—it’s silent after -2:00.