Looking for suitable musical accompaniment to a massive bong session or an experimental dive into psychedelics? I’m hard pressed to think of a better soundtrack for such activity than Cosmogony by space wizards AMON ACID. I was quite impressed by 2020’s Paradigm Shift – and while I don’t think this record tops it, except in terms of length -, this duo is now a serious player in the spaced out doom metal category.
The record is quite a massive one, packed with droning, languorous riff-fests that virtually force you to explore the depths of the universe. Imagine a collision between ELECTRIC WIZARD, HAWKWIND and maybe MONSTER MAGNET and you’ll be pretty close to the AMON ACID sound. Toss in some Middle Eastern/Mediterranean touches, which are best heard on ‘Parallel Realm’ and ‘Nag Hammandi’, to spice things up. Guitarist/vocalist Sarantis hails from Greece so those exotic touches make sense.
The songs are fairly long, but only closer ‘The Purifier’ is a true epic, clocking in at over 14 minutes of buzzy, head-cracking doom. The music is pretty heavy with the exception of ‘Ethereal Mother’, which lacks distortion and is very Greek sounding. Lots of lumbering, fuzz-soaked riffs on ‘Hyperion’ and ‘Demon Rider’, with space noises and “swooshes” giving things a HAWKWIND touch. It’s heavy but laid back, flowing along like a river of molasses.
Cosmology comes highly recommended if you want to explore the universe while never leaving contact with the ground.
Review By: Dr. Mality
AMON ACID
Cosmogony
Indie Recordings / Regain Records
3.5 / 6