THE SONIC DAWN – Phantom (2024, LP/CD Heavy Psych Sounds Records) 

RELEASE INFO:

Label: Heavy Psych Sounds Records

Format: LP, Album, Limited Edition, Black Vinyl

Format: LP, Album, Limited Edition, Purple Vinyl, 550 copies

Format: LP, Album, Ultra Limited Edition, Splatter Vinyl, 100 copies

Format: LP, Album, Ultra Limited Edition, Tricolor Vinyl, 200 copies

Format: CD, Album, Digipack

Release Date: 10 May 2024

Our beloved Danish acid rock trio, The Sonic Dawn is back! They started as The Mind Flowers (releasing one Split Single in 2014 with The Roaring 420s), soon after they became The Sonic Dawn, and ”Phantom” is their 5th album, “unfolding as a journey through 10 acid rock tracks that absorb the impressions of a world gone mad”…

With the addition of one more musician, The Sonic Dawn is Emil Bureau (Vocals, Guitar, additional keys), Erik “Errka” Petersson (Piano, Hammond B3, Rhodes, Clavinet), Jonas Waaben (Drums, percussion) and Niels “Bird” Fuglede (Bass). “Phantom” contains 10 songs, 5 on each side of the LP album, and all music and lyrics are written by The Sonic Dawn. The band also produced the album. It kicks off with “21st Century Blues”, a hot hot hot Blues number paying tribute to the American Blues music of the 20th century, the track is torturously slow and shows a tremendously 60s psych n’ trippy aura. “Iron Bird” is a heavier track, in sound and in attitude generally, bluesy of course, 60s inspired, combining Britain’s 60sPsych-Blues finesse with some late 60s USA Blues-Psych heaviness, cool! The rhythmic and groovy “Think It Over” follows, it’s a kind of boogie-woogie tune with a rather cool poppy freshness… “Nothing Can Live Here” is a balladesque song that sets the scene somewhere in the mid-70s at least for the first minute because then – and out of nowhere – the track takes an unexpected Psych orbit. Still, only for the next 90 seconds, then it “falls” back into its initial “state”, this kind of “fall-arise” thing goes on till the end, giving the track the ID of a rather cool and extraordinary song! The next one is one of my personal highlights, “Dreams Of Change” is a trippy Neo-Psychedelic addictive song filled with doses of 60sPsychedelia under a clear Blues prism, this is dream-a-delica of the 21st century! Side “B” opens with “Pan Am”, a fast tune, dynamic, groove-a-delic, a danceable Rock n’ Roller with a hot Organ sound that is totally late 60s inspired. “Transatlantique” is slow and kind of Bluesy, filled with Love and Romance taken straight out from Translove Airways (can you Dig that?) “Scorpio” is my second highlight, a balladesque attitude filled with Psych and some sporadic Bluesy riffs, a remarkably strangely orchestrated song that flirts with Psychedelia and I loved it by the first listening! “Micro Cosmos In A Drop” is a Bluesy Rock n’ Roller, with a groovy funky, and acidly drenched frenzy rhythm! Eventually, the album comes to an end with “Friend”, a slow number, kind of balladesque with an intense feeling that this particular track could easily fit in one of the very first solo albums of Sir Mac… Yes, it has that McCartney warm soft, and mellow feel… Brilliant! So, in conclusion… Well done boys! You managed (as always) to deliver one fine remarkable set of songs! “Phantom” is a haunting Acid-Blues album, a refreshing one that helps to clear your Head and grasp reality! Grab it! TimeLord Michalis     

Tracklist

Links:
Listen / Buy through THE SONIC DAWN Bandcamp

Check THE SONIC DAWN Facebook

Visit THE SONIC DAWN Official Web

Alternatively, get it via SHINY BEAST Mailorder