Album Review: Warlung – Optical Delusions
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
Fancy a twist of modern which intertwines neatly with the thick, psychedelic rock of the 1970s? If so, I’d suggest getting stuck into this welcome slab of heavy. Texans Warlung blend the heaviest riffs with soaring sonic soundscapes on this third album which follows hot on the heels of 2019’s ‘Immortal Portal’.
In a genre which is relatively saturated, finding music that rises above the standard stoner fare is tricky. Warlung have stuck not just a toe above the water mark but shoved out a whole damn leg. Eight songs, all with a dreamlike vocal delivery of duel vocalists George Baba and Philip Bennett, packaged neatly in this first release for their new label, Heavy Psych Sounds.
There are plenty of immediate comparisons, the obvious one being Ghost but there is a much more nuanced influences hidden away. The robust style echoes earlier Sabbath recordings, but there are hints of Rush, Deep Purple and the swagger of Zeppelin all buried deep in this 39-minute, eight track record.
Tight and on point, the rhythmic anchoring of bassist Chris and drummer Ethan Tamez allows Baba and Bennett room for expression and exploration. Tracks like the opening ‘Phantasmagoria’, the mellow ‘Sun Eater ‘and ‘Hell On Earth’ demonstrate the variety that Warlung bring.
‘Optical Delusions’ is a confident, powerfully crafted release. By far their most accomplished effort so far, there is ample to explore amidst the crashing riffs, deep meandering passages and gentle forays into the psychedelic world. Retro has never been so modern!
‘Optical Delusions’ is released on October 9th on Heavy Psych Sounds
