ON TRIAL (Blinded By The Sun) CD
There are a lot of Psychedelic Rock bands around, but only a few got the class of ON TRIAL. The band was formed 15 years ago, and they released a handful of beautiful albums, EP's and singles on different labels. Their last album "New Day Rising" is still in my personal heavy rotation, and "Blinded By The Sun" is their latest one, released on Molten Records, and in opposite to the aformentioned one, things have become heavier here.The entire sound is amazingly authentic, and it sounds, like one of this good old early 70's records. I guess, it must have been a lot of work to create such a warm and old-fashioned sound, and I mean 'old-fashioned' as a compliment. Whenever I saw this band live, they sound much heavier than on any record, and this time they've transported this heaviness on the album.
While the previous records got a very strong Roky Erickson/13th Floor Elevators vibe, this time ON TRIAL have opened-up their music more to the 60's Westcoast Psychedelic sounds.One of the highlights is the over ten minutes long "Kolos", which sounds as if Sleep would do a jam session with the 13th Floor Elevators. Another great tune is "Everything", which goes more into the 60's pop direction or the driving little rocker "Miles Away". Instead of doing again a cover-version of the 13th Floor Elevators, ON TRIAL have chosen this time "Driver" from The Damnation Of Adam Blessing, an obscure heavy band from the early 70's. But here are also some relaxed moments to find, like the heartbreaking semi-ballad "So Close". Vocalist Bo Morthen and his commanding clarity stamped itself indelibly on every song. ON TRIAL are one of the best Psychedelic Rock bands, no doubt about it, and it's impossible to describe the beauty of this album with words.
(KK)