Lacertilia | Transcend | Majestic Mountain Records
Release
Date: October 24, 2025
Format: Digital/LP/CD
Genre: Stoner Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Country: United Kingdom
Lacertilia has spent the past decade building
a strong presence in the UK heavy psych scene. Coming from Cardiff, they grew
from wild underground shows into a band known across European festivals, among
them Hellfest, Freak
Valley and Desertfest London. Their
music has always mixed stoner rock heat with cosmic influences and a raw punk
edge. Their path includes the early blast of the 2015 EP "Crashing Into
The Future", the 2016 album "We’re Already Inside Your Mind",
the fierce "Live At Hellfest" EP and the more introspective 2020 full
length "Calling The Quarters". After years of steady growth, the band
arrive at their third album, "Transcend", released through Majestic Mountain Records in 2025. This new work
marks the most ambitious moment of their career and shows the band operating
with full confidence in their heavy psychedelic identity. Lacertilia is Matt
Fry (vocals, acoustic guitar), Lucas
Zalunski (electric and acoustic guitar), Michael
Young Temple (electric guitar, djembe), Ed
Hughes (bass) and Carl Richards (drums).
"Transcend"
moves with the energy of a band that knows exactly how far they can travel. Lacertilia keeps their signature storm of fuzzed
out riffing and space charged atmosphere, while adding darker tones and richer
textures drawn from folk, prog and post rock. The mix is heavier than before,
but also more detailed. The album’s ten songs shift between large, rolling
guitar work and passages that pull the listener inward, almost like stepping
from open desert into a narrow cave and back into the sunlight.
The band
explores subjects that fit their expanding sound, among them personal change,
the strange limits of reality, the pressure of existence and the fragile nature
of human connection. The lyrics steer the album toward a more grounded
emotional direction while the music stretches outward into cosmic territory.
The contrast gives the album steady depth without falling into overcomplication
or drifting away from its heavy rock foundation.
The
performances hold strong throughout. The guitars form a thick and swirling
mass, sometimes bright and melodic, sometimes shadowed and rough. The bass
locks in with the drums to push the songs forward with steady force. The vocals
(remind of Dave Wyndorf) stand above the
noise with a direct tone that matches the band’s heavy psych spirit. The album
moves with confidence and is arranged in a way that keeps the listener engaged
from start to finish.
"Transcend"
lands as the most fully realised version of Lacertilia
so far. It grows from their earlier work, shows a band unafraid to
expand their palette and presents a clear vision of where their cosmic heavy
rock can go. Fans of Monster Magnet and Orange Goblin will find plenty to enjoy, and long
time followers of the band will recognise how far they have progressed without
losing their identity.
The album
delivers strong songwriting, thick atmosphere and a confident sense of
direction, placing it comfortably above average. There is ambition, growth and
a clear creative voice, making "Transcend" a rewarding listen for
anyone drawn to heavy psychedelic rock.
No comments:
Post a Comment