We had plenty of April showers here in Tennessee, where I am, bringing us May flowers – and lots of excellent psychedelic rock. The summertime is fast approaching, time is slipping away, and we’re busy at The Third Eye producing reviews and articles. It keeps us out of trouble.
We offer here the best psychedelic rock albums of May 2023, a smorgasbord of music from California to Germany to Norway to Denmark and back to California again. We have plenty of heavy psychedelic and stoner for you, but the list also includes some bluesy psych, cosmic country, lots of experimentation, krautrock, and a good dose of acid and freak folk. It’s an eclectic offering that, we hope, leaves no stone unturned in the realm of psychedelic music.
Now, by the best psychedelic records of May 2023, we merely mean the ones we enjoyed the most. Any list of the best is a subjective exercise, like musical tastes themselves. As the Big Lewbowski says, it’s like our opinion, man. Let us know what you think of the list by commenting below and letting us know what we may have left out. And be sure to support some of these hardworking artists on Bandcamp.
Best Psych Rock of April 2023
Trembling Under the Spectral Bodies by Pure Land Stars
Release Date: May 5, 2023
Subgenre: Krautrock/Electronic/Ambient
Bandcamp Link
Trembling Under the Spectral Bodies is a fantastic electronic and krautrock album initially released in July 2022 as part of the Altered States series via Centripetal Force Records and Cardinal Fuzz. The band Pure Land Stars began as an exercise in improvisation with members of the band White Manna, and the jam sessions eventually led to this record.
The album has an ominous, spacey feel reminiscent of Seventies-era German electronic groups, and it also sounds a bit like a soundtrack for some obscure science fiction film. It was re-released on May 5th, and you can grab a digital copy, a vinyl, or a compact disc on Bandcamp.
I won’t say much more about this one other than you should give it a listen. We reviewed the record in May; you can see the link below. Here’s a snippet of the review: “Krautrock fans will surely enjoy this one, but even those without much appreciation for this type of music may want to give it a shot. It’s engaging, and the songs are tightly composed. In most cases, the pieces, except for the last track, don’t drag on too long.”
Read the full Third Eye review here.
Aashray by Apex Ten
Release Date: May 5, 2023
Subgenre: Heavy Psych/Stoner
Bandcamp Link
Some records combine the textural elements and heaviness of the psychedelic and stoner genres so well that they deserve constant listens. The new album by Apex Ten, Aashray, is one of them.
Apex Ten is a Belgian-based heavy psych-rock band that relies on jamming and improvisation to craft beautiful, lengthy, and artful music that has gained the attention of many in the heavy underground. The power trio was formed in 2021 and uses instruments like lap steel, a synthesizer, and a theremin to create fluid stoner psychedelia that is absolutely killer.
Aashray is a record heavily influenced by Hindu spirituality, as you may be able to tell from the title and some of the track titles. The album contains just the right amount of heaviness and atmospherics, making you want to listen from front to back. Apex Ten is a band that deserves your attention and will be right up your alley if you like the spacey jams of bands like Elder.
Read the full Third Eye review here.
Beyond the Realm of Common Sense by Grand Atomic
Release Date: May 5, 2023
Subgenre: Heavy Psych/Stoner
Bandcamp Link
When it comes to heavy psych, it doesn’t get much heavier than Norway-based Grand Atomic. This power trio of stoner/doom musicians released their debut full-length album in May, a massive-sounding beast entitled Beyond the Realm of Common Sense, that is here to pulverize listeners.
Grand Atomic was formed in 2016 with a mission to make bone-crushing, fuzzed-out tunes as they did back in the Seventies and Nineties. They take inspiration from legendary bands like Sleep, OM, and Electric Wizard, add their own twist to it, and create wholly original stoner psych. As Tom said in his review, the sound on this record is massive and “as thunderous as a herd of stampeding rhinos.” As they hoped, my bones have been crushed upon listening to this one lately, but I enjoyed every minute.
Tom’s review of the album points out some minor flaws, such as the tendency to be a bit repetitive in songs that sound very similar. But I feel these flaws are slight, and overall, it’s an excellent album. That’s why I included it on this list and think it’s one of the best psych-rock releases of May. I imagine this one by Grand Atomic may also rank high on the Doom Charts for May 2023 because it’s the type of album that combines the heaviness of doom and stoner with psychedelic flourishes that we all love.
Read the full Third Eye review here.
Keshakhtaran by Flowers of Hell
Release Date: May 12, 2023
Subgenre: Experimental/Classical
Bandcamp Link
Moving from heavy psych and stoner to more experimental territory, we revisit the very fascinating group Flowers of Hell. They are a transatlantic experimental orchestra comprised of a revolving lineup of about 16 musicians playing a kind of psychedelic classical and instrumental music that I’ve come to love.
The composer Greg Jarvis is the leader of Flowers of Hell, which is based in Toronto and London and creates primarily instrumental music that, along with classical, combines elements of space rock, post-rock, shoegaze, and drone. Their sound is heavily influenced by The Velvet Underground and Spacemen 3, and much of their music since 2007 explores the synesthesia that causes the composer Jarvis to perceive sounds as floating visuals.
Their new record, Keshakhtaran, consists of three songs, two more than 20 minutes long. It’s profoundly experimental music that could be described in various ways, including metaphysical, sound healing, drug music, orchestral pop, and cosmic jazz. Unlike some bands of this ilk, the music is rarely harsh and has a soothing quality. So, it could be seen as something similar to some recently released music intended for psychedelic therapy, such as some recent works by the ambient composer Jon Hopkins.
Read more about Flowers of Hell on The Third Eye here.
Western Sky Music by Jeffrey Silverstein
Release Date: May 12, 2023
Subgenre: Cosmic Country/Freak Folk
Bandcamp Link
Jeffrey Silverstein is an excellent cosmic country artist based in Portland, Oregon, who released Western Sky Music in May, an album I was very much looking forward to. This is Silverstein’s second full-length release for the Arrohawk label, where he channels the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest into wondrous guitar-driven explorations of inner landscapes.
There are plenty of alternative country guest appearances on this record, including Barry Walker Jr. on pedal steel, Dana Buoy on drums, and Willam Tyler on guitar. The music presented here is as chill and weirdo Americana as possible, each track like a slow, Southern-fried mediation that sounds warm and inviting. Like all good cosmic country and Americana, you can feel the dirt and roots of America on Western Sky Music. It’s gentle, sweet, and, as NPR Music says, reminiscent of “Beachwood Sparks and Silver Jews at their twangiest.”
The cosmic country reviews I do here on The Third Eye generally don’t get many hits or traffic, but I don’t care. It’s a genre I love, and I’ll keep writing about it regardless. Western Sky Music is music that feels like a pastoral landscape painting, full of warm colors. And if you have even the slightest interest in Americana or country music, you’ll want to hear this record.
Everyone is Evil by Øresund Space Collective
Release Date: May 27, 2023
Subgenre: Space Rock/Experimental
Bandcamp Link
The Scandinavian supergroup Øresund Space Collective rarely issues a bad release, and this latest one from the end of May is just as awesome as all the other improvised psychedelic jams they put out. Everyone is Evil is the 40th release from the highly prolific space rockers and the 28th studio album from them.
The jam session was recorded in September 2022 and includes many top musicians that created a blend of progressive, psychedelic, world music, and space rock goodness for your ear drums. Everyone is Evil is an epic 64-minute track broken into three parts that “takes the listener on an intense journey through a different universe” and sounds a bit like Can, Magma, and other bands like them but in the Space Collective’s own unique signature blend.
The last track, Everyone is Good, brings the listener down to a more calm state with a repetitive, meditative exploration into outer space music. Make sure to grab the CD version on Bandcamp, which includes two bonus tracks that start with a rocking tune followed by a near half-hour “trip into another world.”
Longtime fans of Øresund Space Collective will cherish this release, but it’s just as good for those new to the band. They’ve released tons of music since 2006, and you have to start somewhere, right?
The Mojo Funk by Smoke Stack Rhino
Release Date: May 19, 2023
Subgenre: Stoner/Blues Rock
Bandcamp Link
Smoke Stack Rhino is a band I recently stumbled upon making psychedelic-adjacent music with a heavy dose of blues rock. Coming from the Yarra Valley, Australia, they say their music is “groovy, it’s of the earth, it’s authentic.” The psychedelic stylings on this record are light touches here and there, and the emphasis is more on the groove and blues. Nevertheless, fans of heavy psych and stoner rock should enjoy this one.
The music is catchy and anthemic and, certainly, stuff you’ll want to sing along to. Smoke Stack Rhino has gained a sizeable following in the Australian blues and roots rock scene, playing many festivals and getting press attention. If you like the bluesier songs of All Them Witches, you’ll dig this. And there’s just enough weirdness to these Howlin’ Wolf acolytes that we can call them properly psychedelic, or at least enough to be included on this list.
Largo Vista by Delta Shade
Release Date: May 18, 2023
Subgenre: Blues Rock/Classic Rock
Bandcamp Link
Delta Shade is another band bringing a bluesy, psychedelic sound with heavy leanings to stoner rock. These guys are from California and, like Smoke Stack Rhino, they aren’t pure psychedelic, but they remind me of the classic psychedelic blues of bands like Canned Heat.
Largo Vista is a potent record that brings a robust, heavy sound, great electric guitar work, and a solid rhythm section. There’s not much information online about this California power trio, so you’ll have to take my word that it’s a great album. Fans of classic power rock, psychedelic blues, and vintage/retro vibes should enjoy this.
Inferno by Electric Moon
Release Date: May 20, 2023
Subgenre: Acid Rock/Space Rock
Bandcamp Link
Germany-based Electric Moon has been a pillar of the acid and stoner rock scene since forming in 2009. The three-piece band has released much music since 2009, including many live albums. Their live shows are highly regarded and hailed as a unique experience where they reach a symbiosis between the audience and the band and celebrate the love of music together.
This release of Inferno from the band is a re-issue from Echodelick Records on the anniversary of its initial release. Eleven years after the original release, the cult album by Electric Moon has a makeover in sound and artwork. Inferno is the band’s most popular album, featuring a 50-minute title track and a 15-minute prologue called Mental Record. The album was recorded in one take, an intergalactic jam with a “mind-blowing attitude.”
Echodelick Records calls it dark, heavy, and monumental, but then again, delightful with its interesting interchanging of major and minor chords. I agree with this assessment and more – Electric Moon is a great psychedelic band, and Inferno is a release that’s something to behold. Check out the special anniversary edition on Bandcamp, available as a vinyl or digital release, or go back and find the original recording. You won’t be disappointed.
Ancient Suit Songs by Bingo Harry
Release Date: May 19, 2023
Subgenre: Acid Folk/Freak Folk
Bandcamp Link
Bingo Harry is a creator of mystic folk who also goes under the moniker of Benny Jones. He makes psychedelic pop and acid folk records with cloud-chiming guitars and spellbinding dream songs carved from the ether. We reviewed one of his Benny Jones’ records not too long, and I was excited to see this new release under his Bingo Harry alias.
He says this new album is an epic psych-pop record with summertime grooves, laidback surreal ocean reflections, glacial melodic interludes, lyrical openness, cloud-top visions, blue sky doorways, possibilities of love, and much more. He released it under the Bingo Harry moniker because the songs embody the psychedelia aspect of his creative output. In his words, the Benny Jones name leans more toward ethereal, mystical psych folk.
No matter what he may call himself, Ancient Suit Songs is an excellent new record comprised of 10 dreamy pop songs with plenty of folk influences. The music harkens back to the roots of early psychedelic folk, whether from The Beatles, George Harrison’s solo work, or Neil Young’s trippier stuff.
Read more about Benny Jones/Bingo Harry from The Third Eye here.
Take a Ride by Neon Burton
Release Date: May 1, 2023
Subgenre: Heavy Psych/Stoner Rock
Bandcamp Link
Take a Ride is a new album that Third Eye contributor Tom and I absolutely loved, so I added it as the 11th and last pick for May. The album is “an expedition into the depths of outer space and those of our own minds, rising from the grounding of the spurred sound cruiser with resolutely igniting engines.” That is a wildly confusing description from the band, but once you listen to the album, you’ll understand that word salad fits the trippiness of the music.
This is the third full-length album from the German band, a thought-provoking record that Tom says has lyrical content that “should inspire people to look past the surface and go deeper into who they are as people.” The music is heavy psych with plenty of space rock and stoner elements, and the excellent musicianship adds to the philosophical lyrical content.
Tom of The Third Eye gives this one a big thumbs up, and I always trust his judgment. So, head over to Bandcamp and check this one out, too.
Check out the full Third Eye review of the album here.
That’s a wrap! Let us know if any albums deserve mention here that we may have left out – we’re always open to suggestions. And head over to Bandcamp to support some of these artists and these fantastic albums!
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