MONDO DRAG „“New Rituals””

Music: Stoner/Psychedelic
Country: USA
Web site: www.mondodrag.org
Cool Songs: Come Through, Light as a Feather, Black River

MONDO DRAG is a band born 30-years too late. The Iowa-based group's newest space odyssey “New Ritual” presents analog production, vintage equipment and classic rock sounds belonging to the late 6os and early 70s.

Cuts such as “Light as a Feather” and “Serpent Snake” move to the same type of swinging, blues swagger as BLUE CHEER. James Sheley’s guitar leads transverse between electrifying scales from the pages of JEMI HENDRIX to the extraterrestrial noise of early PINK FLOYD and HAWKWIND.

Pastoral acoustic guitar and hand drums paint pictures of verdant riverbanks on “Black River.” This track really brings to mind LED ZEPPELIN narrating a Tolkien tale.

The nine-minute title track opens to massive chord ringing, which has this scribe expecting Roger Daltrey of THE WHO to suddenly belt out a “YEAH!” “Come Through” is another earthy jam characterized by tambourine and trippy sounds such as shimmering electric guitar and astral vocals.

“New Rituals” won’t elevate the savage metal beast inside of some of us, but it will rock your socks off and take you to far away planets.

note: 7/10

Tracklist

1. New Rituals
2. Light As A Feather
3. Love Me (Like A Stranger)
4. Come Through
5. Fade Out
6. Serpent Shake
7. True Visions
8. Apple
9. Black River
10. My, Oh My
11. Tallest Tales

Line-up

Vocals-Cluney,
Vocals, Guitars-Nolan Girard,
Guitars-Jake Sheley
Bass-Dennis Hockaday
Keyboards-John Gamino