ECCENTRIC MEETS EXCITING: ‘THE MANIC EXCESSIVE SOUNDS OF’ THE WARLOCKS

ALBUM REVIEW | THE WARLOCKS – THE MANIC EXCESSIVE SOUNDS OF by Morgan Hermiston

Psychedelic seven-piece The Warlocks return with more raw revelations in 14th studio record, ‘The Manic Excessive Sounds Of‘. Via Cleopatra Records, The Warlocks give listeners exactly what the title suggests, an eclectic collection of carefully curated melodies, with some unique, unrehearsed moments thrown in. It is equally refreshing as it is raw, promising selective spontaneity.

The Los Angeles psych-rock band recently released the deluxe version of their record ‘Heavy Deavy Skull Lover‘. While it can seem rushed to create a record in such quick succession, ‘The Manic Excessive Sounds Of‘ has allowed frontman Bobby Hecksher a playground of expressive exploration. “One has to wonder,” Hecksher said, “if marriage can really work in these modern times“. For him, this record is one of emotional escapade, resulting in eight very different tracks that will provide listeners with the same catharsis.

Hecksher is joined by a lineup of tremendous talent, with all of their incorporations being heard with clarity. JC Rees and Earl V Miller both provide guitar work that is a forefront of the record. Bassist Marlena Schwenck and drummer Oscar Ruvalcaba ensured there was still cohesion among the wild world of Hecksher’s lyrical and musical mind. Elina Yakubova provided percussion and tambourine, with Rob Campanella responsible for keys and synth. Campanella also engineered and mixed the album, sharing the producing role with Hecksher.

“no-one ever took the time to explain to me, how tired and melancholy life can be”

‘A Duel between you and i’

THE TRACKS

Starting off with an eight minute introduction, ‘It’s A Fucked-Up World‘ perfectly encapsulates the chaotic climate of the world we live in. It acts as three songs in one, an extensive arrangement of melodies that make it intriguing to listen to. The vocals are a little muffled, though this is likely an extension of previous work, and it actually elevates the ambience and atmosphere.

Both the opening track, and ‘You Can’t Lose A Broken Heart‘ are the album’s singles. This track really emphasises the psychedelic persona of the record, raw riffs and a solo driving extra depth. “You can’t lose a broken heart these days,” is repeated, suggesting that in a modern climate, you feel specific emotions like loss and heartbreak, but the cause still remains close.

If you’re a fan of tracks you can easily sing along with, ‘We Are All Lost‘ and ‘A Duel Between You And I‘ are perfect for you. In ‘We Are All Lost‘, a chorus of collective cohesion appears in the repeated line, “we are all lost children“. Despite being the shortest song on the record at 4 minutes, it is one of the most impactful, with guitars making significant and memorable appearances. In the latter, catchy chorus are prevalent too, with lyrics fighting against a repetitive routine, “no-one ever took the time to explain to me, how tired and melancholy life can be“.

‘Stars On Sunset‘ is packed with individual instrumental inputs. There is a hopeful edge to this, with a desire to “show her the world is okay”. With so much to unpack, this is definitely a track you’ll return to, in an aim to pick up anything you might miss.

Almost the opposite can describe ‘The Dotted Line‘, which is more of a rock ballad. Even in its more simplistic state, at least compared to previous songs, there is still a divine depth. Layered instrumentals still make it busy enough to listen to, without being overbearing. It adds to The Warlocks’ inability to be boring, in fact I’d argue that they’re the antonym of this.

Final two tracks encourage a non-blaming attitude. They are two sides of the same expressive coin. One is more orchestrated, the other incorporates the wild, more explosive side that was promised in the record’s title. ‘Don’t Blame It On The Band‘ is another more tranquil tale. It utilises melodies to take listeners on a journey, adding an element of serenity and soothing.

“It’s a fucked-up world,” is repeated, but the music seems to portray the sorrow felt as a result, consequently creating a beautifully constructed track. The final song, ‘Don’t Blame It On The Jam‘, is an outro of nearly nine minutes. The more untamed atmosphere is the perfect end to an album of immense introspection, and loops seamlessly back into the beginning again.

Arranging atmosphere and depth is a strength of The Warlocks. ‘The Manic Excessive Sounds Of‘ is demonstrative of this throughout, providing something for everyone to enjoy. The highlighted topics will resonate widely with listeners, giving a sense of comfort while combatting the idea that our struggles are isolated. It truly is a “fucked-up world” and this record personifies this perfectly.