LUCID SINS is Ruaraidh Sanachan and Andreas Johnsson, the heads who brought an explosive freeform psychedelia to Glasgow's live scene through their first band Moon Unit. With their Totem Cat Records debut "Oscillation" (2015)- the Scottish duo drew attention to their darkness-tinged brand of 70's Psych and Classic Rock, making a storming entrance among their proto-metal peers UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS, WITCHDRAFT or DEAD MEADOW. In 2021, LUSIC SINS return to the scene forefront with their sophomore full-length "Cursed!," issued on May 3rd through independent Britanny-based powerhouse Totem Cat Records.

"Joker's Dance" leads off the album. It opens with a psychedelic feeling and loose, easy vocals. There is a bit of an ambient pause after the half way mark, where he dancing bass guitar comes through stronger, then it's back to the opening sound. "The Serpentine Path" is a bit longer. Fuzzy guitar notes lead in the opening, and in comes some cowbell. I feel like I was transported back to the 70's here. Some lead guitar notes come in, and the entire song has a depressing sway to it. The sound changes a bit towards the end, with some spacey elements.

"Sun and the Moon" begins with those old-school keyboards. The vocals are harmonized. A key and guitar solo occupy the middle half of the song, with audible bass notes. Towards the end, the song begins to swell a bit with some psychedelic tones, the ends on key notes and soft, pensive vocals. "The Devil's Sign" opens with a slow pace and depressive tones. It carries on the same path for much of the song, then takes a little diversion towards the end.

"Cursed" is the longest on the album, at six-and-a-half-minutes in length. It opens with a light, jovial feeling, which is funny, because the sound is opposite of the title. Another interchange between guitar and keys comes in, with more of those dancing bass notes. Suddenly, the song turns dark, with a slow and lumbering passage. It returns to the opening sound and the rolls to completion.

"Snake Eyes" begins with tense, short guitar notes and drums, leading to a fuller sound, with some fancy fills. Darkness abounds. After the half-way mark, steady drums mark an even darker sound, with some lead guitar fills. "By Your Hand" is a short piece done with a faster pace and some energy. This song could easily be on the radio. "By your hand you will die" he croons. "The Forest" closes the album. It rides the line between hope and despair fairly well, but in the end, despair wins out.

Overall, it was a pretty good listening experience. The band is recycling an old formula, but they do put a good measure of their personality into the music. It isn't anything that you haven't heard before, but they do put in their own twist. Much of the album is melancholy and depressing, but there are moments of brightness. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fine bass work of Sondre Berge Endegal. Fans of old school 70's psychedelia should find this album to their liking.