Review: Mountain Tamer ‘Psychosis Ritual’

This heavy psych, doom and stoner three piece from LA return with their third album, this time released on their new label Heavy Psych Sounds called Psychosis Ritual and if you’re already a fan, you’ll be pleased to read it’s very much business as usual.

Mountain Tamer 'Psychosis Ritual'

It’s been two years since the release of their debut album, the highly acclaimed Godfortune // Dark Matters in 2018. Touring with Fatso Jetson, Weedeater plus Dead Meadow convinced many of their ability, so they have virtually taken the heavy psych scene by storm.

These guys aren’t however anyone’s one trick pony. Influences apparent straight away are Jane’s Addiction and Warrior Soul, plus a heavy dose of Eastern/Indian trance-like sounds. They’ve been described as having a nod towards grunge, to which I can also hear but there is a lot more than meets the ear to these guys. A seven track thirty two minutes and thirty seconds worth of full on heavy psych assault are what you get for your money.

Psychosis Ritual more than displays their talent for creating wonderful tones and textures, and music that really takes you somewhere. The Eastern influence that’s been used well by many bands in the past, including the Screaming Trees, adds to the psychedelic elements really well. The first, and the title track on this record Psychosis Ritual jumps out of the speakers like some huge monster drone, hypnotic and beautiful in its size.

Followed closely by Warlock, creating an apocalyptic darkness that’s just made to be cranked up nice and loud to upset the neighbours. These guys mean it ‘man’. Great riffs follow great riffs and an intensity rarely accomplished these days. I love the fact that their influences are prominent, but the soul of this record is the three guys in the band and what they’ve brought to the table in the way of ideas and playing.

Would I recommend this album to fans of atmospheric, hypnotic, psychedelic rock music? Absolutely…

It’s evident in how convincingly they perform on all seven tracks. Standout for me is final track Black Noise kicking in with a beautiful drone and powerful piercing lead, like a modern version of The End by The Doors, taking the intensity higher on every line.

Would I recommend this album to fans of atmospheric, hypnotic, psychedelic rock music? Absolutely. This is a unique and interesting album that does in half an hour what many rock albums never accomplish, which is to make you feel you’re transported to somewhere out of your normal day to day existence and feel the better for it once it’s ended.

Mountain Tamer mean business and have committed to vinyl their frustrations, anger and feelings in these songs and they more than deserve your attention.

In the words of the band however Warlock drops you into combat with a foe who will obscure the truth, break you down, and change the field of battle without a moment’s notice. The inspiration for this antagonist are the imperialist forces that have carved their way through history, changing the narrative of the past and present. The dark current of the Warlock is the world of Psychosis Ritual.’

Label: Heavy Psych Sounds
Band Links: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram

Scribed by: Tim Keppie