The Third Eye

July 28th brought some excellent music to listeners’ ears, and among them is a California-based band named Malterra. Their Hydrosphere album is exceptional, bringing a mix of alt-rock, psych-rock, and some sounds that border on the progressive. So sit back with a cool drink, and read about what I believe will be your new favorite record. 

About Malterra and Hydrosphere

Formed in 2021 and hailing from Santa Rosa, California, this trio plays a blend of alternative, psych rock, metal, funk, and more. The band consists of Anthony Aboumrad on bass and vocals, guitarist Hector Altamirano, and on drums, we have Mike Schaus. 

As you listen to the album, you will hear influences from Mastodon, Fugazi, King Crimson, Neurosis, Helms Alee, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tool, and Tash Sultana, along with many others; some of these are more obvious than others, but you can feel all of them in the music. 

The Songs

1. Plankton (06:20)

I like how the intro is full of bass and guitar movement before dropping into an alt-rock vibe that made me think of Finger Eleven. Malterra then drops even further, and winds up on a jam band meets psych and prog sound, a recurring theme across the album.

The energy picks back up when the verse parts begin, creating a rollercoaster of ups and downs within the first ninety seconds. I believe this adds a unique feel to the track, keeping listeners guessing where Malterra will go next. Anthony supplies a vocal style that may bring Pallbearer to mind, the difference being that Anthony has a higher tone and is less gritty. 

2. King (06:45)

I hear Tool initially, as the drums and bass give the impression that Mike and Anthony looked to Danny Carey and Justin Chancellor for influences. The song’s first significant change takes them into an alternative rock direction, and when we get to the verse, it reverts to that initial Tool-inspired piece. I believe Tool was a major influence on this song, even during the sections that are predominantly psych based. 

3. Tsunami (05:49)

I love this song, and a big part is hearing a slap and pop bass part, which is a stylistic approach that gives this song its character. I asked Anthony about the track, and he had this to say … 

“‘Tsunami’ was born from a single slap-pop riff I simply could not get out of my head, haha! That whole verse builds so much anxious energy it was intuitive for the chorus to emerge as a melodic breath of fresh air (for a moment, anyway). The song is unrelenting, apart from the intro, which serves as the calm before the storm. The aim was to evoke a feeling of being helplessly tossed around by destructive forces without and within.”

4. Whalers (06:21)

Of all Hydrosphere songs, “Whalers” is the best. The bass guitar playing and overall tone are superior to any other work on this album. I dig the clicky attack Anthony gets, and his bass lines perfectly complement Mike’s drumming. The two of them play a blend of genres here, prog and a bit of jazz being chief among them, but they also utilize their alt-rock and psych leanings to their fullest. They couple that with Hector’s tasteful guitar parts and, in the process, have created one hell of a closing track. 

Final Thoughts

We’re now in the final moments of the review, which has been positive in terms of the strength of the songs, the performances of each member, and the overall tone of the album. Malterra has brought forth four unmistakably good tracks and is one of the better debut albums that I’ve heard up to this point in 2023.

Anthony says that … 

“We’re thrilled to have finally brought this to fruition, and overall are very happy with how the production turned out. We hope that folks will immerse themselves in the dynamic journey of each song and perhaps come away with some renewed sense of awe and humility with regard to life, death, nature, and our own human imperfection.”

I urge you all to listen to Hydrosphere, and as you do so, pay attention to the finer details of the music. You will find everything even better than it appears on the surface. Enjoy!

Support Malterra 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.

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