Superlynx has a nifty name for a band, and equally nifty is the quality of their music. Their upcoming fourth full-length album is called 4 10, was recorded in 2022 and was released on September 29th, 2023.
About Superlynx and 4 10
2023 is the ten-year anniversary of Superlynx, and 4 10 is part of their celebration of that milestone. Their Bandcamp profile says this about the record …
“Jamming has always been important to Superlynx in addition to songwriting. This time, all the music on the album was created through jamming sessions where the music that came out of it led the way and turned into these songs. The focus on 4 10 is imagination, dreams, connection, and an open view. Here, Superlynx further explores fuzzed-out heavy psych, improvisation, and the depths of dreams and surrealism.”
While the music has a jam vibe, it also has a sense of purposeful cohesion, holding everything together.
The Songs
1. Into The Sun (06:33)
I absolutely love this song, particularly the vocal work, which can honestly be said of any of the tracks on 4 10. The beginning reminds me of The Doors’ “The End,” but it’s faint and only in certain guitar parts. The atmosphere that Superlynx creates is hypnotic, and you’ll see me refer to that several times in this review. I also like the blues influences in the guitar solo; they added an excellent counterpoint to the other aspects of the track. I tried to find a negative element to this song, but there isn’t any.
2. Cycle (04:28)
“Cycle” has a different yet similar feel compared to its predecessor. It comes across more of a heavy psych style, with a bit of grunge, ala Alice In Chains going on. The guitar parts are incredibly well-written, and their tone is spectacular. I wasn’t sure I liked this one as much as “Into The Sun” at first, but further listening made me think it’s the better of the two.
3. Heavier Than Me (05:00)
A desert-psych undertone is going on during this track, and I’m here for it. As with the first two tracks, the vocals are incredibly performed, with their hypnotic tone and approach on full display for all to hear. The music is catchy and memorable, utilizing that desert-psych style with a touch of doom thrown into the mix, creating an incredible listening experience.
4. Sphinx (06:50)
The desert-psych is present here but with more of a blues-based backbone, particularly in the beginning. As with the first three tracks, the guitars have an excellent tone and superb vocals. One of the things that sticks out is that while some guitar parts are fuller, the spacious quality of other sections is most fulfilling. This sense of dynamic songwriting helps keep things interesting for the listener and fits the vocal work. Superlynx throws us a doomy stoner riff at three minutes and forty-five seconds that is badass, adding to those dynamics that I brought up.
5. The Unknown (05:14)
There isn’t much more going on here than what has already happened on 4 10, but that doesn’t mean the song is bad or weak. It simply means that Superlynx has a style and formula that works well for them, and if you take everything that makes up the first four songs, then you know what’s in this one. The one difference is that there is a Middle Eastern influence in a few sections, which I love hearing in music that isn’t predominantly Middle Eastern.
6. Nothing To Everything (07:42)
I liked the weird industrial type of noise initially; they added an element that worked well with the sparse guitar part that accompanied them. Once that ended, the track took on a doomy psych feel, but the verse was something else entirely and quite a bit different than anything I’d heard so far. It’s still in the psych realm, just not in the way that Superlynx has shown us in the first five tunes, and it also has a desert-psych undertone. The riff at four minutes and fifty seconds is a groove-filled stoner doom-influenced bit of excellence, helping to perfectly break up the psych elements. This is one of the best tracks on 4 10.
7. Away (03:28)
We’re at the second to last song, and Superlynx is still going strong. Heavy psych and occult doom collide to make a thick, meaty sound, and the vocals float effortlessly over the phat riffs. I find it wonderful when bands are still adding different elements this late into an album, and it helps to redeem the fact that “The Unknown” felt a little formulaic.
8. Under It’s Spell (06:03)
The last track is excellent but also reminds me of the formulaic aspects of “The Unknown,” which is me saying that no new ground is being broken here. I do, however, enjoy this song, as the guitar playing is top-tier, especially during the leads, which are the best on the album.
Final Thoughts
Despite my having zero knowledge of their music before 4 10, Superlynx has made a fan out of this reviewer. Their mix of heavy psych, doom, stoner, space rock, and meditative elements make for a beautiful listening experience … one that I suggest you take part in as soon as possible.
Support Superlynx 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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