Time has since clouded just how I discovered Naxatras, the Greek psychedelic rock outfit. I think it was via Bandcamp, possibly by following the breadcrumb trail of “You Might Also Like…” albums at the bottom of the page of…some album. I remember I featured the band’s fourth full length, simply titled IV, in my Best of 2022 Stoner and Psych list over at Nine Circles, and now here we are with the equally descriptive album title V. Good news is it’s even better than its predecessor, heavier and doubling down on the exotic flavor of its melodies. This has been another great headphones album, but it’s equally effective played at loud volumes on a good stereo.

The quartet has been around since 2012, releasing their eponymous debut in 2015. The sound is swirling psychedelia with a heavy rock emphasis, recorded largely live and analog. V sees the band expanding its palette further, incorporating electronic flourishes and world beats to their bedrock of psychedelic and progressive rock. Opener “Celestial Gaze” sounds off on this new expansiveness immediately, opening with layers of synths and a repeating arpeggio on the keyboard that the rest of the band rises to meet in a lush, meditative rhythm. Lyrically we’re talking groovy trips to the outer reaches of space, lovely queens and twinkling stars of various hues. The summary from Bandcamp captures the vibe pretty succinctly:

The Citadel illuminates the starry gateways
Inside its ancient chambers, the Spacekeeper waits 
The secret land of Narahmon unfolds before his gaze
Time is standing still before the mirror breaks

I love how warm the vinyl is. I try to think of the ideal music for different formats: lately I’ve been focusing on cassettes for my death and black metal, but when it comes to vinyl, I really look for music that’s warm, large in scope and wide in the soundstage. Naxatras fit the bill perfectly, and instrumentals like the hypnotic rock of “Spacekeeper” and closing track “The Citadel” have a depth to the production that draws me deep into its musical ideas. That’s often what I’m looking for in my music: something with space to fall between. With Naxatras, there’s something about how they arrange their songs so you can find those spaces – too often, even with my beloved stoner and prog rock – there’s a tendency to overfill songs with so much sound you can’t find a moment to breathe.

That works for some sounds, and some moods. But when I listen to a song like “Numenia” with its vocal hooks and flute licks, or “Legion” with its more overt electronic dance influences, I can close my eyes and work my way around each of the instruments. V helps to balance me, to get lost and find myself renewed. Working through the “why” of it all was the original intent of this blog, and I’m trying to find ways to write that aren’t the usual template of “these are the songs and this is what it sounds like.”

Why do I collect physical media? For today it’s because a group like Naxatras, and an album like V, elicits a tactile response in my head that’s more than just a signal being passed to my ears and brain.