WILDERNESS OF MIRRORS IS THE BAND’S FIRST ALBUM IN 5 YEARS
Wilderness of Mirrors is a glorious comeback for a band who shaped the contemporary take on a past sound without feeling outdated. – 8/10, Loud and Quiet
It’s a sonic voyage that takes some twists and turns but none too drastic for one to handle.
–8.6/10, Northern Transmissions
Austin’s psych-rock legends The Black Angels release their brand new album Wilderness of Mirrors via Partisan Records/Liberator Music, with acclaim spanning BrooklynVegan, Clash, FLOOD, Gigwise, Guitar World, Louder Than War, NPR All Songs Considered, Premier Guitar, SPIN, The Times, and Under The Radar and more. Now they share the electrifying single from the collection, “Empires Falling,” alongside an official music video.
The band shares, “‘Empires Falling’ is a critical and reflective plea that examines humanity’s repetitive art of violent mass destruction. As we say in the chorus, “it’s history on repeat.” We are living in a Wilderness Of Mirrors, where it’s hard to tell what’s right from wrong, up from down, or the truth from lies as we navigate through these times where the fate of humanity is being refracted and reflected from one state of panic to another. The world is a “bleeding animal” and we are left exhausted, polarized, and “pleading from street to bloody street.” History has proven, time and time again, that without a drastic metamorphosis from our leaders, politics, and ultimately ourselves… “you can be the one who saves yourself, or you can watch it all go to hell.”
The most impactful music reflects a wide-screen view of the world back at us, helping distill the universal into something far more relatable. The Black Angels have become standard-bearers for modern psych-rock that does exactly that, which is one of many reasons why the group’s new album feels so aptly named. It has been 5 years since fans have been treated to an album from the band and Wilderness of Mirrors marks a triumphant return with their foot on the pedal. The new collection expertly refines the Black Angels’ psychedelic rock attack alongside a host of intriguing sounds and textures while political tumult, the pandemic, and the ongoing devastation of the environment have provided ample fodder for their signature sound and fierce lyrical commentary.
Mellotron, strings and other keyboards are more prominent than ever before. The Black Angels – Alex Maas (vocalist/bassist), Christian Bland (guitarist), Stephanie Bailey (drummer), Jake Garcia (guitarist), Ramiro Verdooren (multi-instrumentalist) – co-produced the record, working closely with Brett Orrison (co-producer) and Dinosaur Jr engineer John Agnello to achieve something fresh and new while retaining their heavily influential classic sound.
Since forming in 2004 in Austin, TX, The Black Angels remain masterfully true to psych-rock forebears such as Syd Barrett, Roky Erickson, Arthur Lee and the members of the Velvet Underground, all of whom are namechecked on “The River.” The band’s global influence is solidified by their beloved, long-running Levitation Festival, the veritable ground zero for the genre’s past, present and future — celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.
The Black Angels
– Wilderness of Mirrors
Out Now through Liberator Music/Partisan Records
LISTEN here
Tracklisting:
1. Without a Trace
2. History of the Future
3. Empires Falling
4. El Jardín
5. La Pared (Govt. Wall Blues)
6. Firefly
7. Make it Known
8. The River
9. Wilderness of Mirrors
10. Here & Now
11. 100 Flowers of Paracusia
12. A Walk on the Outside
13. Vermillion Eyes
14. Icon
15. Suffocation
Feature Photo Credit: Pooneh Ghana
