BLACK SCIENCE

The global approach appears equipped with sci-fi and occult themes. John Gillanders is mainly responsible for layout and song writing, yeah - just important to know, which deserves a special kudos. The line-up remained stable during recent years, not taken for granted in these days. Unfortunately though the band - due to some private reasons - has quit actually after releasing this album. The last show took place in September 2012 as a consequence. I really do hope it's not their final word. Anyway, now it's about time to follow their steps where they are damn rrrrrocking beyond time and space.

First Contact Manual perfectly opens the door to foreign galaxies and immediately shows their advantage - fantastic wah-wah infected space guitar contributions - even sometimes a bit glissando tuned - provided by brothers John and Adam. Easy Prey follows a tad more innocent and straightforward compared to the other stuff, though also outfitted with a weird hallucinogenic downfall towards the end. And that points to the follwing minutes overall, basically you can notice a perpetual alternation of heavy garage rock sections and spacey excursions full of superb echoed guitars.

Finally the long runner Our Sentence Is Up gives us the whole nine yards - a fascinating jam, synths are squeaking and bubbling, some well put samples are embedded. Including the forerunner album BLACK SCIENCE have made an essential contribution to the heavy space rock department. Too bad, as we have reached the end of the band story now. Hey, no reason to complain though, you just have to come back to their albums here and there ... and life goes on.

Now, obviously, as for a proper orientation, album and song titles respectively cover art are strictly pointing to space rock roots of course. The opener The Universe Personified apparently shows Hawkwind references, however there is more ... a hallucinogenic outfit in between ... the hypnotic groove backed by a powerful rhythm branch ... the strong jamming attitude later spiked with diverse mysterious electronics and samples. Overall this sounds that rounded and pleases me much - great start-up.

On Theta 8 swirling synths and excellent vocals complement the overall impression - this seems to meander aimlessly first, but picks up another excellent groove further on. A dynamic garage mood controls Another Space Anomaly where Consensus Of Rapid soars to another album highlight including excellent guitar work, etheral voices ... and a nervous breakdown as well. While under way with their Resurrection Ship later this first reminds me of Talking Heads as for the shell but also offers a tremendous guitar thunderstorm in between, wow!

45 inspired minutes are way more than 80 minutes of randomness - I would classify 'Cosmodemonic & Beyond' a rounded affair. The fundament is groovy heavy space rock in any case, and there's always a slight doom background to state for example. What makes it attractive in the end is the variety, the jamming parts are gripping. When thinking of similar bands Omnia Opera come into my mind. Would be really interesting to know how this works live on a stage. Great spirit all in all - 4.5 stars