Review: Indica - Stone Future Hymns

Indica are the latest in an ever-growing line of heavy Australian bands to light things up here at Dayz of Purple. Predominantly doom based, the band artfully mix in psychedelic and spiritual influences resulting in a slooow and heavy album that pretty much ticks all the boxes here. The band (Jayesh Talati - Guitar and Vocals, Jesse Haywood - Guitar, Josh Dawson - Bass Guitar, Michael Flint - Drums and Craig Ferguson - Noise) hail from the delightfully named Mt Tamborine in Brisbane..but don't look for any tamborine banging in the album. 'Stone Future Hymns' was initially released as a digital album back in February but is to be given a vinyl press by the wonderful Tonzonen records of Germany.

'Silence Is Killer' starts proceedings with a single cymbal, the one moment of tranquility you'll get over the course of the next 50 or so minutes. Almost immediately the slow and heavy as fuck riffs announce their arrival over some rock solid drumming. A lone voice in this treacle-thick doom soup can be heard intoning plaintively in the background...."when can I die?". A fine, solid start to the album. 'Inner Mind Arise' takes a decidedly spiritual turn, becoming the soundtrack to a doom odyssey. The swirling synth effects add a spacey, airy vibe to lift the claustrophobia normally associated with this genre. The riffs are, again, as heavy as you like - but rather than being just an 8 and a half minute riff fest, the track rises and falls, changing moods and vibes along its way. Towards the end we are treated to genuinely fine psychedelic guitar. 'Om' picks up from the psych of the preceding track with a vaguely middle-eastern sounding melody and some chant like vocals - so far, so quiet. The signature heavy riffs break in and the vocals become more strident and the mood changes from one of introspection into something much darker and pessimistic. The synth once again brings something elevating into the mix, more spacey effects that somehow add to the spiritual vibe. It's hard not to see the title and think immediately of Mr Cisneros et al, but that seems somehow right listening to this track, it shares the same spiritual ethos and the ability to conjure moods with heaviness as Om the band. A huge and invigorating track. 'Goat of Mendes' brings things back into the 'normal' doom arena of satan and his evil ways...solid doom fare. 'Slow Burner', the closing track, is epic! 16 plus minutes in length, it starts with a relatively sedate guitar over more airy synth effects, creating an atmosphere of peace and calm. A simple drum beat heralds a change...heavy, slow rolling riffs can be heard and the track evolves into another monumental musical odyssey. It's doomy in places, but interspersed with passages of lightness - reflecting the trials and tribulations of a long journey and culminates in a glorious miasma of feedback and static. It is a more than satisfying manner in which to close the album.

Indica have definitely hit upon something here....taking the traditional slowness and downtuned heaviness of doom, but adding a pinch of psych and generous spoonful of spirituality that results in a heady mix. The addition of electronica may be distinctly 'undoom' but it adds to the recipe, bringing an airiness and sense of space that not so much lightens the mood than lightens the music - these guys can still do dark! It's a pretty ace album and a more than welcome addition to the growing roster of superb bands from Oz. The digital download can be purchased via the band's Bandcamp page here. The vinyl will be released on 17th June (Limited to 500 copies (300 split-color green & lilac / 200 black, including inserts & download code) and can be got at the Tonzonen webstore