Review: Nebula / Black Rainbows ‘In Search Of The Cosmic Tale: Crossing The Galactic Portal’
The new Nebula and Black Rainbows split album, In Search Of The Cosmic Tale: Crossing The Galactic Portal was initially billed as a follow-up to Nebula’s recent live album Livewired In Europe, as well as Black Rainbows Superskull giving both bands some new material to tour behind as they plotted a joint trek across Europe this summer.
Despite the recent passing of Nebula’s longtime bassist Tom Davies, the band forged ahead with new bassist Ranch Sironi, blazing a trail across Europe last summer on the heels of their aforementioned live album. But, in an almost unbelievable tragedy, and wretched twist of fate, Sironi himself passed away just a few days before the band was set to leave for Europe. It is under these unthinkable, terrible circumstances that In Search Of The Cosmic Tale… was released.
The music in these grooves, however, is not surprisingly fucking killer. Nebula, since their return after a decade hiatus, spearheaded by founder, vocalist, riff lord and shred master Eddie Glass, Davies and drummer Mike Amster, have dwelled in a mega-distorted, grimy, psychedelic aural attack that, while calling back to their late ‘90s and early ‘00s heyday, took the drugged-up, psychedelic aspect of the band, climbed aboard their spaceship and set controls for the heart of the sun.
I mean, they have gotten really weird and I mean that in the best possible way. This musical approach, hinted at on their comeback album, 2019’s Holy Shit, but taken to the next galaxy on 2022’s Transmission From Mothership Earth is on vivid display on the three tracks included on this split. Opener Acid Drop features one of Glass’ signature, fuzzed-up, thrusting and addictive riffs, with plenty of spaced-out shred, his deceptively catchy vocals and a really lo-fi, almost primitive, heavy, garage rock sound.
Glass’ signature, fuzzed-up, thrusting and addictive riffs, with plenty of spaced-out shred…
Eye Of The Storm drops into the mega-tripped out, super psychedelic, distorted mind-fuck sonics of Transmission From Mothership Earth with more ear-worm Glass riffage, and a bone-rattling bass-line from Sironi. Nebula proceeds to get as weird and out-there as any track in their legendary catalog with Ceasar XXXIV, a track that sounds like it was recorded on another planet through a black hole, while the band members each ate a sheet of LSD. Yes, it is that weird, and the first few spins had me wondering if the vocals were someone other than Glass, but no, that’s him, bellowing like some fucked-up and fried intergalactic wizard from across space and time.
Black Rainbows meanwhile, who have always been welcome on my stereo with their combination of heavy, fuzzy, catchy, garage-tinged, psychedelic rock and roll, as founder, guitarist and vocalist mastermind Gabriele Fiori, and his band, drummer Filippo Ragazzoni, and bassist Edoardo ‘Mancio’ Mancini continue to excel at delivering infinitely listenable, heavy rock.
complete with Fiori’s signature fuzz and next level ability to conjure up the catchiest of choruses…
The Secret is a killer, bouncy, Black Rainbows track, with Fiori’s seemingly effortless ability to whip out a soaring catchy chorus, complimented by his addictive riffing on full display. Thunder Lights On The Greatest Sky stays in this aural realm, complete with Fiori’s signature fuzz and next level ability to conjure up the catchiest of choruses, while Dogs Of War is one of Black Rainbows patented, tripped-out, psychedelic, fuzzed-up garage rock epics, like The Cosmic Picker off Hawkdope or The Pilgrim Son off last year’s Superskull, but with a slight bluesy bent and an incredible build-up that brings the song and release to a victorious close.
Needless to say, all three tracks by both bands are good-to-great and they both proffer the sounds and energy that have been apparent on both band’s previous full-lengths. However, the unfortunate cloud hanging over the release is the untimely horrible passing of Sironi. It’s worth wondering if Nebula is done as a band, and if so, one certainly can understand why, as losing not one, but two members in a year is beyond catastrophic on many levels.
If this does turn out to be Nebula’s last release, these songs serve as a testament to the musical direction Glass was taking the band in and a glimpse at Sironi’s skills as a bassist. All of us at The Sleeping Shaman offer our deepest condolences to Sironi’s family, friends and all of Nebula. This is, however, a super cool release, that deserves to be heard, despite the unfortunate circumstances. In Search Of The Cosmic Tale: Crossing The Galactic Portal is out now on Fiori’s own Heavy Psych Sounds label.
Label: Heavy Psych Sounds
Nebula: Official | Facebook | Spotify | Instagram
Black Rainbows: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Martin Williams
