17 June 2026

ETHIVA – Beaten Track (2025, LP, Clostridium Records)

RELEASE INFO:

Label: Clostridium Records

Format: LP, Album, Limited Die-Hard Edition, Gatefold, 180 gr, Red-Black Marbled Vinyl (comes with printed insert, band-sticker and download-code), 300 copies (hand-numbered)

Release Date: July 2025

Some records do not simply mark a band’s return — they feel like the continuation of a journey that had merely been paused somewhere in the cosmic haze. Such is the case with “Beaten Track”, the long-awaited third full-length offering from Spanish psychedelic progressive explorers ETHIVA, released in 2025 through the ever-reliable Clostridium Records.

Hailing from Asturias in Northern Spain, ETHIVA first emerged in 2011 as a power trio formed by Javi Lorenzo (guitar), Jandro Losa (bass, vocals) and Ramón Fernández (drums), quickly establishing themselves within the European underground through a sound built on expansive acid-drenched guitar work, spacious atmospheres, hypnotic grooves and fearless improvisational passages. Their self-titled debut “Ethiva” (2013) introduced their heavy psychedelic-progressive DNA, while the excellent “Sublime Island” (2017) further refined their taste for long-form cosmic explorations and dynamic songwriting.

After an extended period of silence, the band resurfaces transformed yet spiritually intact. With founding members Javi Lorenzo and Ramón Fernández still steering the ship, ETHIVA now welcome new additions Camil Cinnamon on vocals and Iván Muñoz on bass, expanding the project into a newly energized quartet. The arrival of Camil in particular brings an entirely fresh dimension, her ethereal vocal presence weaving elegantly through Lorenzo’s wandering guitar lines and the fluid rhythmic backbone that has always defined the band’s identity.

On “Beaten Track”, ETHIVA sound revitalized, balancing vintage 70s progressive rock aesthetics with modern psychedelic sensibilities, stretching their compositions across six extended tracks filled with cosmic tension, melodic sophistication and immersive sonic landscapes.

“Beaten Track” contains just 6 tracks, 3 on each side of the vinyl LP, clock-ticking from 5:52 to 7:58 minutes. The opener “Rolling Freeze” delivers a heavy, deeply 70s-rooted composition where progressive rock textures meet powerful melodic sensibilities. Camil Cinnamon’s commanding vocal entrance elevates the track, while the constantly shifting moods and shimmering guitar passages make for a truly mesmerizing introduction. Driven by a relentless rhythm section and once again dominated by Camil’s now unmistakable vocal character, “Cut The Top” leans heavily on vintage 70s hard rock foundations. The guitar work steals the spotlight here, giving the song an energetic and irresistibly dynamic edge. Beginning with pounding drums and a muscular instrumental backbone, “Run Far Away” gradually transforms into an emotionally charged heavy ballad. Camil’s fragile yet expressive performance adds depth, while the band masterfully builds intensity without sacrificing the melancholic atmosphere. Side ‘B’ opens with “Mountain Claim”, perhaps the album’s most adventurous moment, opening like a classic mid-70s hard rock ballad before unexpectedly exploding into a full-force heavy rock anthem. The constant transformations throughout the track showcase ETHIVA’s impressive compositional ambition and undeniable love for vintage heavy rock. “Red Lights” is a fascinating mixture of psychedelic atmosphere and electrified hard rock energy, sounding almost like an alternate-universe Pink Floyd with a heavier backbone. The shifting tempos, dramatic mood swings and glowing guitar work make this one of the album’s most vibrant compositions. Closing the record on a high note, “Summertime” is a dark, progressive heavy ballad carried by a hypnotic bass presence and beautifully restrained vocal delivery. The mysterious whispering section in the middle adds a surreal, mind-bending quality, making this perhaps the album’s most immersive and memorable piece…

With “Beaten Track”, ETHIVA deliver the strongest statement of their career so far, proving that long periods of silence can sometimes lead to genuine artistic rebirth. Deeply rooted in the golden era of 70s progressive and hard psychedelic rock, yet sounding fresh, inspired and remarkably organic, the Spanish quartet have crafted an album filled with powerful compositions, adventurous arrangements and an almost old-school sense of musicianship that feels increasingly rare today. Eight years after “Sublime Island”, this is not simply a comeback — it is the sound of a band rediscovering its own path and pushing further into the unknown, proving once again that some of the most rewarding journeys still happen far away from the mainstream. TimeLord Michalis