Dead Meadow has reached a defining milestone in their 26-year career with their highly anticipated tenth studio album, Voyager to Voyager. Since emerging in the late ’90s as trailblazers of the heavy psych-rock scene, the band has continually expanded the boundaries of their sound.
This latest release cements their legacy and serves as a heartfelt tribute to their late bassist and creative brother, Steve Kille, whose untimely passing in early 2024 marked the poignant close of a chapter in their storied history.
Voyager to Voyager is Dead Meadow at their most emotionally resonant and sonically adventurous. Written and recorded during three impassioned sessions at downtown LA’s Ultrasound Studios, the album captures the raw immediacy of their live performances.
By relying on first or second takes, they preserved an unfiltered energy that pulses throughout the record. Drummer Mark Laughlin delivers career-defining performances, grounding the band’s expansive sound with precision and intensity.
However, this album’s creation was shaped by profound personal trials. In early 2023, the band began the writing process, unaware that a storm loomed on the horizon. By year’s end, Steve Kille’s health began to falter, and in January 2024, he was diagnosed with cancer.
Yet even as his condition deteriorated, Kille’s unwavering resolve inspired the band to forge ahead. During the final mixing sessions at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606, Kille’s presence was felt, both spiritually and physically, as he oversaw the process from a couch in the control room.
Ultimately, the initial mixes didn’t quite capture the band’s vision. Guitarist and vocalist Jason Simon recalls the challenge: “The Sound City Neve board definitely added its magic, but the unfamiliar environment made it difficult to hit the mark. So, I decided to take on the Herculean task of remixing the album at my own studio. It was grueling, but in the end, it felt like Dead Meadow—like classic us. I know Steve would agree.”
The result is quintessential Dead Meadow: an expansive, melody-rich journey rooted in their singular sound, yet boldly exploring new territory.
Lyrically, Voyager to Voyager traverses themes of cosmic wonder, human connection, and isolation. The opening track, “The Space Between,” uses the universe’s continual expansion as a metaphor for strained relationships. In contrast, the title track reflects Simon’s fascination with the twin Voyager spacecrafts—symbols of humanity’s boundless curiosity and messages exchanged between kindred travelers.
Steve Kille’s passing in April 2024 imbues Voyager to Voyager with profound significance. “We lost more than a bandmate—we lost a brother, a friend, a creative partner who shaped our sound and identity,” Simon reflects. “Steve’s bass playing was endlessly inventive, and his artistic vision defined our album covers and visual storytelling. This LP is not a tribute album, but it is undeniably a celebration of his legacy.”
With Voyager to Voyager, Dead Meadow reaffirms their status as legends of modern psychedelic rock, reaching new creative heights while honoring the shared bond that has propelled them for nearly three decades.
It’s a cosmic journey transcending time and space, a poignant farewell to one chapter and an open invitation to explore the next.
Pre-order Voyager To Voyager by Dead Meadow on Bandcamp here.
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