Smote 'A Grand Stream'

Last summer, Daniel Foggin, guitarist and driving force behind Smote, relocated to a farmhouse near the Scottish border, where much of their fourth album, 'A Grand Stream', was recorded. Inspired by moments of serene happiness by a river, the album channels this sense of contentment into a transcendent, drone-filled journey. It captures Smote's signature folk-tinged, ceremonial ambiance while pushing into new sonic dimensions, blending Swedish psych heaviness and Swans-like textures.

'A Grand Stream' showcases Smote's evolution, with tracks like the primal, rhythmic "Coming Out Of A Hedge Backwards" and the uplifting "Sitting Stone Part 1." The meditative "Chantry" takes listeners into eerie, ethereal realms, echoing the drone epiphanies of Kali Malone and the amplifier worship of 'Earth 2'. Throughout the album, Smote transcend psych-rock conventions, weaving together primal rhythms, droning incantations, and a wyrd, otherworldly atmosphere. Their skillful sonic exploration dares listeners to venture into crepuscular, uncharted territories, offering a thrilling and mystical experience.