Review: Naxatras ‘V’

Naxatras released their fifth effort a few weeks ago and I can confidently say that V is a serious contender for the Albums of the Year of 2025. Even if you’re not inclined to any band that has the ‘stoner rock’ etiquette stuck to their names. Naxatras are so much more than this, it is a visual and auditory experience that deserves all of our attention.

The main difference between their previous full-length album, IV, and this one is that we get a shorter tracklist (awwww) and longer songs (yaaaaay). Everything else on V is just a direct continuation of their previous work, following a cinematic pattern of psychedelic rock melodies blended with sci-fi imagery, whether it may remind you of Denis Villeneuve’s take on the Dune saga (like in Celestial Gaze, Sand Halo or Utopian Structures) or 2001: A Space Odyssey (like in Spacekeeper)

The Middle Eastern influences can be heard throughout the album, like in Legion, which can only be described as a sand maze in the scorching desert but makes it sound like Ozric Tentacles and Messa. To me, it is probably the best song off this album, even if Celestial Gaze and Spacekeeper are just as delightful to get lost in.

this album is simply phenomenal…

Tracks like Breathing Fire and Numenia are a bit more formulaic in terms of proto-space rock structures but not less intriguing and riveting, which can only predict great times to come whenever we get to see them touring by our neck of the woods – I know that I will be so down for another Brighton show, seeing them at the Green Door Store in 2013 was a joy.

It’s a bit hard to believe that it’s only been ten years since we got introduced to the Thessaloniki-based band with their self-titled debut album, and yet, it’s just one of those bands that feel like they were always part of the psych-rock zeitgeist and a proof – if you need one – drugs are not necessary to fully enjoy Naxatras, all you need is just to let yourself go completely and immerse yourself into their world.

The synths are there, the riffs are there, the bass is heavy, and the drums are definitely there (Kostas Charizanis should get a medal for that epic intro on Celestial Gaze), but it would not sound the same if it wasn’t for John Delias’ sensational vocals. There is nothing bad on V, no skips, no ‘I’ll check it later’ type of thing, this album is simply phenomenal and I urge you to get into it if you haven’t already.

Label: Evening Star Records
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram

Scribed by: Nessie Spencer