Arguably San Diego's preeminent psych/prog-rock group, Sacri Monti have just delivered the Fourth of July BBQ jams you desperately need with a brand-new studio album titled "Waiting Room for the Magic Hour" (streaming now; it's officially out July 5 on Tee Pee Records).
The new full-length effort (recorded with Jordan Andreen, via analog tape no doubt, at City Heights' Audio Design studio) cements the band's status as one of the best in the biz, not only in town but anywhere. While San Diego's no stranger to great, heavy psychedelic-leaning rock & roll, Sacri Monti pull out all the ripping, trippy stops on "Waiting Room for the Magic Hour."
Comprised of five hometown scene heroes (guitarist Brenden Dellar, guitarist Dylan Donovan, bassist Anthony Meier, synth/organist Evan Wenskay, and drummer Thomas DiBenedetto), the band plows through Sabbath riffery, Neu! hypnotism and Floyd spaciness with expertise, creating a bubbling cauldron of hefty, atmospheric, spiraling rock that nearly eclipses those greats altogether.
Infinitely listenable, Sacri Monti don't sacrifice songwriting in search of neverending solos (a common genre pitfall); instead, every element (from the fuzzy vocals, swirling organ and wah-wah guitars to wandering bass, soaring synths and precision drums) plays in concert with the ones around it, allowing each player the space to breathe and shine -- all while lurching together from one movement to another like a glorious, choreographed jam-band ballet.
It's a staggering, beautiful -- and heavy -- affair. It's early still, sure, but given the way each monumental track rises higher than the one before it and effortlessly blends into the next, this record might very well become the de facto San Diego psych/prog-rock album of all time.
Hyperbole aside, this 'Magic Hour' is definitely going on repeat.
Visit Sacri Monti on Facebook here and be sure to pre-order the new album here. After an upcoming European tour, the band plays the Casbah on Aug. 30 with Warish and Volcano; get tickets here.
Dustin Lothspeich is SoundDiego's senior associate editor, a San Diego Music Award-winning musician, and talent buyer at The Merrow. Follow his updates on Twitter or contact him directly.
