Solar Mantra – Away
Release Date: 3rd September 2021
Label: Argonauta
Bandcamp
Genre: Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Psychedelic Rock.
FFO: Monster Magnet, Kyuss, Corrosion of Conformity, early Soundgarden.
Review By: Jason Batus
The latest release from the Italian based psychedelic stoner band Solar Mantra is set for release on September 3rd. Originally forming in 2017 and independently producing and recording their debut EP of the same name, Solar Mantra has since signed with Argonauta records and is now releasing their first full length album “Away“. The current line-up consists of Tommaso Santillo on vocals, Simone Bianchini on Drums, Francesco Carretti on guitar, and Guiseppe Lombardi on bass.
“Away” certainly takes the listener on a psychedelic voyage through space and time. Giving the listener an experience from start to finish is an important part of his genre, and “Solar Mantra” does an excellent job of that here. The album opens with “Stone Rider” a heavy, grinding riff driven tune with solid low tones from the rhythm section. The drums aren’t too busy, but rather drive the feel through an assertive, solid beat, embracing the emptiness between notes. Santillo’s gritty vocals blend exceptionally well with the guitar hooks, establishing a solid, harmonious sound as a beginning for what the rest of the album holds in store. While most of the album has a fairly upbeat tempo with solid rocking riffs and great guitar hooks, as you go deeper into the album and towards the end the songs become more trippy and hypnotic until the ambiance is that of drifting off into deep space. This is especially evident in songs like “Mazinga” and the closing track with the band’s name sake “Solar Mantra”.
I really enjoyed this album as a whole. It had a feel not unlike some of the nineties albums from Monster Magnet, Corrosion of Conformity, and Kyuss, but still sounded fresh, with the band establishing their own sound. The guitar solos throughout this album are well done, and accentuate the feel of each song, as are the drums. Lombardi’s bass parts are also a highlight, with several songs featuring bass intros and parts that have a thick fuzz tone, such as the opening to the album second song “Pacciani”. The band does a good job of providing a good mix of upbeat riffs followed by half-time feel breakdowns throughout the album as well. If you are a fan of doom metal and psychedelic heavy metal, then you are definitely going to want to join “Solar Mantra” on their ride through deep space and check out “Away”.
(4.5 / 5)
