New Heavy Sounds have been discovering nuanced heavy gems for over ten years now. The label that brought stoner doomers Black Moth, space heavy shredders MWWB to our attention among others, has lately seemed to have turned their attention, and ours, to the equally excellent feminist hardcore brutality of Death Pill, and Shooting Daggers. Always interesting, the label’s latest release They Watch Us from The Moon’s debut recalls the label’s earlier signings and arrives beamed from somewhere out of the far outer reaches of the interplanetary system via Kansas.
Embracing a sci-fi opera concept, and a love of Queen and David Bowie, the members don’t hold back as ‘Luna Nemesis, Nova 10101001’’s incredible melodic harmonies raise the levels of quality space doom and its potential to mesmerise at dizzying heights. With the back-up of The General Shane Thirteen (guitar and vocals), Adryon Prahktaur (drums), Zakkatron (bass), and the more human sounding named R. Benjamin Black (guitar, vocals) all solidify a crusading introduction with Cosmic Chronicles: Act 1, The Ascension.
It lands upon this mortal coil to showcase five tracks which can all be taken out singularly for high enjoyment, as well as to form a cohesive and consistent whole, which takes you on a journey for 45 minutes of engrossing sonic immersion – drop the needle, hit the play button, whichever the format of your persuasion and let the melodies, wrapped in robust heaviness, cruise you along.
Right from the get go, floating in space vibes are conjured by astronaut voiceovers before the band form a sound which imagines Ruby the Hatchet fused with former NHS label Black Moth would arguably sound like. ‘On the Fields of the Moon’ builds expertly as the riff grows and burns brighter, louder, as glacial crooning glides along for a captivating opener. Then we are hit with the sound and thought of the Wilson sisters fronting Blue Oyster Cult on the sublime ‘Space Angel.’ TWUFTS have the magic ingredient of being able to let a riff flow and grow smoothly into subtle various forms, while the harmonies by Luna and Nova swirl and float for a truly spellbinding outcome.
It’s a formula that works without ever sounding contrived or forced. As the quality never lets up as M.O.A.B (Mother of all Bastards) lives up to its title for one huge psychedelic doom groove. There are moments throughout the album where it sounds like a host of famous guests have wandered through the studio to apply their skills or licks, like on the very nifty Dave Gilmour recalling opening solo in ‘Creeper AD’. This isn’t plagiarism, but a compliment to how TWUFTM take some elements of classic rock’s past glory years and transport them into their own distinctive psychedelic doom.
They Watch Us from the Moon look back in-order to reach the stars for a very pleasurable and engaging debut. Robust doom heaviness at its centre, catapulted to higher levels of ambitions and rewards by quality vocals and a nod to classic rock admirations. They do indeed take us to the ‘bright lights’.