Still, BabaВ and Bennett make a fitting pair vocally when they come together and thereвЂ™s a sense of arriving at a place of arrangement that drives the apex of вЂњPhantasmagoriaвЂќ just as the solo in вЂњDevilвЂ™s GameвЂќ reinforces the first-three-records Ozzy Osbourne impression being made in the midsection by following it with due pull. Some might hear shades of Ghost here and there in the vocal melodies, but I get as much Rush, and either way, Warlung are hitting plenty harder, so take that for whatever itвЂ™s worth. Replete with on-a-dime turns that recall the deceptive intricacy of SabbathвЂs bluesier work, thereвЂ™s a traditionalism at play behind what Warlung are doing with their songs, but they are by no means bound by a vintage mindset. There are patient stretches here and there, as in вЂњSun Eater,вЂќ which closes side A ahead of the seemingly-complementary hook of вЂњOrder of the Solar TempleвЂќ at the outset of the albumвЂ™s second half, but Warlung bring cuts like вЂњThe Scorpion in the Sand,вЂќ вЂњSnake Eyes,вЂќ вЂњHell on EarthвЂќ (bonus for the bassline circa 2:30) and mega-catchy closer вЂњNo ManвЂ™s LandвЂќ to bear with a sense of urgency that serves the material well, the rhythm section of Chris and Ethan Tamez, on bass and drums, respectively, providing backing gallop behind the twisting riffs and dual-vocals of George Baba and Philip Bennett. Tight in construction, tight in performance, tight in production. It is 39 minutes long and runs eight tracks, so is right in line with current vinyl standards, but thereвЂ™s a sense of storytelling that grabs the listener from opener вЂњPhantasmagoriaвЂќ onward and becomes as essential to the proceedings as the riffs and grooves. The follow-up to 2019вЂ™s Immortal PortalВ ( review here), it finds the four-piece roaring back with a more developed approach, shades of classic metalвЂ™s theatricality blending with a modern heavy rock tonal presence and thrust of groove.

9 with Optical Delusions, their third full-length. Houston, Texas, four-piece Warlung will make their debut on Heavy Psych Sounds Oct.

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