I'm sitting in Austin, TX, waiting for my flight back to the U.K. after a long week working Merch Ops team at Levitation. I managed to catch SLIFT, which put me in the mood for some heavy psychedelic rock, leading me to tune into my pals Longheads' newest release, Layers of Wax.
It’s been a big 18 months for them; they’ve slowly been bubbling up within the U.K. desert rock and doom scene, playing shows at Desert Fest, Down Stokes, and Doom Lines. This release with Stolen Body Records feels like it has come at exactly the right time to propel their growth toward total "doomination" (I’m sorry).
When you listen to this album, it’s absolutely essential to take a look at the artwork—Dirk Robertson has provided a stunning visual spectacle.
This 8-track LP showcases the talent of this group: strange time signatures, prog-like twists and turns, and, at its core, heavy riffs and killer jams. Deathcap Farmer, Pt. 1 - 3 encapsulates all these elements. It starts with noise, shifts to a twisted, GOAT-inspired groove, and finishes with thunderous drums and screeching guitars. The band has crafted an atmosphere in this track that builds upon the spacey tales of Mars Doesn’t Feel Like Home Anymore and ventures into another adventure in a strange realm, possibly depicted in Dirk Robertson's striking album artwork.
Layers of Wax artwork by Dirk Robertson
I promoted these guys at a packed Sebright Arms show in October, where I heard Mouth of Fire live for the first time. This track stands out to me—it’s eight minutes of earth-shaking sludge that gives me goosebumps.
I quickly chatted with Sam about this track, and he said it came from the band experimenting with slower, doomier riffs, jamming them out for hours, and building intensity. What stood out in our conversation was their goal to create something both hard-hitting and ethereal. If that’s what they aimed for, they’ve absolutely nailed it. This deliberate writing approach has crafted a track that hits with force at every turn and makes you feel like you’re on a journey with a powerful being.
You can listen to the track on the Fuzzed Out playlist or head to your streaming platform of choice to engage with what I’d now call a must-follow act from the U.K. Better yet… buy the record.
For fans of: SLIFT, FUZZ, The Sword, Smote, and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
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