Psych rock icons Monster Magnet to release delightfully psychotic covers album »A Better Dystopia«
Napalm Records is pleased to present the next chapter of Monster Magnet’s rabbit hole deep dive, »A Better Dystopia«, out on May 21st, 2021. A delightfully (and psychotically) curated collection of 60’s and 70’s proto-metal and late-era psych obscurities covered by the heavy New Jersey legends themselves.
While the album marks a new frontier for Monster Magnet as their first covers record, this is not your typical set of standards released to pass time. »A Better Dystopia« sees the band pay homage to some of their favorite songs of all time, while reflecting on the paranoia, dystopia and revolution of both now – and then.
Fans can experience a first taste of »A Better Dystopia« via the swaggering riffs and swirling vocals on album’s first single, »Mr. Destroyer« (originally by Poo-Bah).
Tracklisting:
01. The Diamond Mine
02. Born To Go
03. Epitaph For A Head
04. Solid Gold Hell
05. Be Forewarned
06. Mr. Destroyer
07. When The Wolf Sits
08. Death
09. Situation
10. It’s Trash
11. Motorcycle (Straight To Hell)
12. Learning To Die
13. Welcome To The Void (Bonus Track)
From Napalm Records:
“Take a trip inside the mind of psychedelic rock legend Dave Wyndorf with Monster Magnet’s »A Better Dystopia« – a delightfully psychotic selection of proto-metal and late-era psych songs that fit the band like a glove! With wonderfully obscure song choices and excellent sequencing, the mighty Magnet pay homage to some of their favorite songs of all time, crafting another exciting and unique listening experience alike what they’ve become famous for. While the album marks a new frontier for Monster Magnet as their first covers record, this is not your typical set of standards released to pass time. Wyndorf is at the top of his game on »A Better Dystopia« – howling, crooning, speaking… whatever it takes to get the emotional message of these very special tunes across, delivering each lyric in his own inimitable style. Musicians Phil Caivano, Bob Pantela, Garrett Sweeney and Alec Morton own the sound on »A Better Dystopia« – vintage and old school, dense and heavy, with searing fuzz leads and pounding bass and drums all played in a deft style that’s almost been lost in modern music. Drop the needle on any song, and »A Better Dystopia« comes up winning.
The album opens with »The Diamond Mine«, as Dave Wyndorf recites a classic monologue by Dave Diamond, an American radio DJ whose programs in the late 1960s and early 1970s helped popularize many psychedelic and acid rock bands. At this point the real trip begins, as the opening chords of the Hawkind classic »Born To Go« gear up for launch. Tracks like standout »Mr. Destroyer« (Poo-Bah) boast swaggering riffs and swirling vocals, spurring visions of some untold Freak revolution – or perhaps dinosaurs battling on a burning planet at the end of time – creating a perfect blend of hard rock and psychedelia. Feverish »Motorcycle (Straight To Hell)« (Table Scraps) is pure punk fury of the old school tradition, evoking a cross between Iggy Pop and Motörhead as Wyndorf wails “I’m gonna drive it straight to HELL!” Falling even further down the mind-bending rabbit hole, Magnet offers their stunning, whirlwind take on the often-overlooked hard rock classic »Learning To Die« (Dust) and a masterful version the Stooges meets Goth epic, »Solid Gold Hell« (The Scientists). The album closes with a nuclear cover of Morgen’s »Welcome To The Void«, inviting you to restart the ride again and again. Take a sonic journey to another time and space and experience what has made Monster Magnet tick since day one with »A Better Dystopia«!”
Exclusively available via the Napalm Records mailorder and online store!
Digipak CD including patch limited to 250 copies.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well