SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PSYCHIC GRAVEYARD - WILTING - The Spill Magazine (2024)

PSYCHIC GRAVEYARD
WILTING
ARTOFFACT RECORDS

Psychic Graveyard is Eric Paul (vocals), Paul Vieria (guitar), Charles Ovett (drums) and Nathan Joyner (guitars and synthesizer) and Wilting is their fourth studio album. The music that these four guys make is not for that faint of heart. This is grinding, heavy music that would not be out of place in a Rob Zombie film. At the same time, the songs they produce are fascinating and interesting and never boring.

The album opens with the post-punk “Your Smile Is A Hoax”. It is, compared to other songs on the album, a relatively arocking song that musically invites the listener into their world. Paul’s vocals, however, have a bit more of a foreboding tone, and lyrically this is not about a former lover. It is clearly a political statement, “we’re bleeding, all over the map” Paul sings with the driving beat and tasteful use of synthesizer, the song is quite startling. This leads nicely into the second song on the album, “Eyes Are Turning”, which features some vicious guitar which is reminiscent of Yoko Ono’s “Why”.

This is a band that likes to experiment with sound and layer sound effects that are extremely creative and unique. “Lives The Size Of An Eyelash”, for example, is a good example. Not only does it have a brilliant title, the song explodes out of the gate with great sound effects, which in combination with the heavy drums and vocals, produce a very disturbing sound. This doesn’t mean it isn’t good, because it is. It is a fascinating journey into some abyss. Elsewhere, “Broke All The Ladders” features great synthesizer playing and a very intense rhythm section.

Wilting is a brilliant album from a band that has found their footing and continues to mature with their music. As heavy as the album is, and it IS heavy, it is an album that has been created to demand the listener’s attention. Psychic Graveyard is a band that continues to grow and use music to express themselves and get across some points. This makes for a brilliant album and an album that really uses sound and music to express their views.

SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: PSYCHIC GRAVEYARD – “SWORD THROUGH MY NECK”

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Aaron Badgley

Born and raised in Whitby, Aaron discovered music through his love of The Beatles. This led to a career in radio, writing for various publications, and ultimately a radio show about The Beatles (Beatles Universe), which ran for over four years. When not immersed in music, Aaron enjoys spending time with the loves of his life -- his wife Andrea, and daughters Emily and Linda (all of whom have an intense love of music too).