June 9th came with a plethora of new music. One of those new albums that caught my attention is List Do Borykan by The Howling Eye, released through Interstellar Smoke Records and Galactic Smokehouse.
About List Do Borykan
Hailing from Gdańsk, Poland, comes The Howling Eye. According to their Bandcamp profile, the band “mixes groovy drums, chunky basslines, and spaced-out guitar melodies to create a unique flavour of psychedelic rock.” After listening to their new album, I can say this is an apt description.
The Howling Eye has described their new album as “a cathartic journey through emotions in a world affected by greed and corruption. A tale of longing, grief, and alienation but also self-love and brotherly bond. A cosmic epistle full of mysticism and futuristic dreams.”
The Songs
The music within the opening track, “Space Dwellers, Episode 1,” will appeal to fans of artists like Pink Floyd and The Doors, two influences that are heavily felt throughout this song. The spoken word vocals are very Jim Morrison, which is an influence you can’t go wrong with, and the music itself is flavored by psych, blues, jazz, and much more.
The band also applies an atmospheric style that borders on the ethereal, taking listeners outside of themselves and dropping them into a groovy place that is only accessible by listening to high-quality psychedelic music like this.
The powerful groove of the bass guitar was my main takeaway from “Medival,” as it is truly the backbone and focus of this progressive psych Rock song. Its tone, style, and attack are incredible, and everything comes together nicely when the guitars come in to mimic the riff.
The Howling Eye gradually raises the power and intensity as they prepare to transition into the last part of the song, and most listeners who haven’t heard The Howling Eye will not expect the stoner grunge riffs that come out in this section, but it’s an excellent way to take the listener out.
“Brothers” is perfect for letting the real world drift away and letting the music transport you to a different state of consciousness. We find the band pouring themselves into their work, allowing the song to pull them in the right direction, following it with a desire to see where it takes them.
The rise and fall of this music are intoxicating, so no drugs are needed for you to experience the psychedelic journey you are about to embark upon. This is what the genre is all about, and it is the best track on this album.
“Space Dwellers Episode 2” is shorter than the first and incorporates funk into the band’s psychedelic style. The first lead section is phenomenal, as the tone and delay make for a seriously spacey vibe that captivates the listener. There’s also a bit of doom to be heard within the space-psych that follows, adding a heavy feel to the song as a whole.
“Caverns” is a song the band has called a “soothing interlude,” and it is just that for the entirety of its runtime. The floating guitars, the sweet groove of the bass and drums, and the bluesy psych tones will relax you with their absolutely mellow approach. Nine minutes isn’t what most of us would expect for an interlude, but “Caverns” captures that feel and style exceptionally well.
The disco-funk is strong with “Space Dwellers Part 3”! A total turnaround when compared with previous tracks, but a damn good time nonetheless. The Howling Eye pulls off this style well and works as an excellent lead into the final song.
The intro music in “Johnny” has a Red Hot Chili Peppers vibe, though the vocal performance distracts listeners from that comparison. The music becomes more psychedelic as things move forward, but that RHCP funkiness lurks throughout.
This is another track that isn’t indicative of the earlier songs but still retains a sense of cohesion with them. This is the second-best track on List Do Borykan, based mainly on the fact that it’s different while still being similar, but also because I adore the flow, style, and songwriting that went into creating it.
Final Thoughts
The Howling Eye’s brand of psychedelic music will appeal to fans of bands like Pink Floyd, The Doors, The Grateful Dead, and other associated artists. Their chill vibe, incredible musicianship, and sense of how to best serve the song are a big part of what makes the List Do Borykan album so good, and these qualities will resonate with other musicians and fans alike.
Support The Howling Eye by finding them on Bandcamp or social media (Instagram, Facebook).
This review was written by Tom Hanno, who has been writing reviews for the last 7 years but has been sharing his love of music for the majority of his life. Originally starting out at the now-defunct Chimera Magazine, he is currently contributing to Doomed and Stoned, The Sleeping Shaman, The Doom Charts, Tom’s Reviews, and The Third Eye. Read more of Tom’s reviews by checking out his Linktree.
Leave a Reply