Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway
Riff Relevant gets quite inundated with submissions for review (we are not complaining, of course). Sometimes some things might get missed… for a bit.
New York’s SUN VOYAGER and their 4/20 offering, ‘Seismic Vibes‘ was a bit overlooked for a spell. Hey, a little late is better than never, right? So, here we are with the band’s eight-song full-length that arrived on that most recent stoner’s holiday.
On it, the quintet – Mike Hammond (Guitars, Vocals), Stefan Mersch (Bass, Guitars, Vocals), Kyle Beach (Drums, Percussion), Evan Heinze (Keys), and Sam Bey (Percussion) – deliver an exciting album of lysergic laced heaviness. That heaviness is derived from a more subtle approach, instead opting for grandiose rock tunes with layers of alluring instrumentation going on.
With massive space rock and progressive psych elements enhancing the spectrum of their sonic sojourns, SUN VOYAGER set the controls for the heart of Sol. That journey begins with the aptly denoted “Trip“, an elevated number rippling with groove and solid, feel-good qualities.
The band’s knack for creating lingering melodies combined with heady vocalizations, all tempered with colorful keyboards and abundant atmospheric textures, is second to none. Just put yourself into such songs as “Open Road“, “Stellar Winds” (one of my favorites, along with “God Is Dead“), or the hypnotic heavy hitter “Psychic Lords” and you will experience this for yourself.
Speaking of experiences, go ahead and strap yourself in now and feel the otherworldly rumble of SUN VOYAGER‘s “Seismic Vibes” in the embedded stream in this review. You also have the option of heading over to Bandcamp HERE for further streaming and purchase options.
