All the way from Oakland, California Psychic Hit has a mission, and I quote: “[We] seek to recast rock music in our own image, rather than to just simply imitate eras past. In an age where the dark forces of monotony and monocracy loom large on the horizon, Psychic Hit appeals to their listeners to embrace the regenerative, communal power of rock n roll”. A slightly verbose but insightful way to describe what is, what was and what potentially awaits.
The band consist of lead guitarist Andrea Genevieve, vocalist/violinist Ariana Jade (who you may have heard with Nik Turner’s Hawkwind), bassist Melanie Burkett, drummer Justin Divver (and Jake Palladino on rhythm guitar and synth. After a four-track EP suitably titled Demo 2018, they now deliver an album that builds on the eclectic mix of that release: 70s rock, a hint of doom, acres of melody, a tinge of folk and, inevitably psychedelia. Better yet, imagine Priest jamming with early Scorpions with Stevie Nicks at the microphone. Their new album, Solutio, encapsulates all of that and more.
Kicking off with ‘Livin’ On’ we get a modified Immigrant Song riff that differs just enough to make this a great start; it uses twin guitars to keep it fresh as the vocals snarl beautifully and has a cracking solo too. ‘Constellation’ borrows from no-one…although the Priestly sound is there. ‘Orocovis’ isn’t a loaf of bread crossed with a Womble, but apparently an area in Puerto Rico… either way, this builds the tension with droning synth and heartbeat rhythms, before the rapid-fire riff brings us a slice of quality heavy rock. ‘The Hand Of Fate’ is the band’s proggy one… time changes, twin guitars, slow-burning sections all join together for a six-minute, not quite Priest, feast of rock of many kinds seamlessly sewn together.
After numerous listens, I have to agree with their opening summary: they use patterns and phrasing that are familiar but do “recast rock music in our own image, rather than to just simply imitate.”
Solutio release July 9th via Seeing Red Records
