PSYCHLONA is a Stoner Metal outfit hailing from the North of England. On September 27 via Magnetic Eye Records, they released their fourth full length studio album, “Warped Vision.” I first became aware of this Stoner cyclone of a band in 2020 with their second album, “Venus Skytrip,” and instantly fell in love with them. While “Warped Vision” is perhaps more mellow that their previous releases, leaning more into Psych than the Stoner groove, it shows a certain level of maturity and, when needed, well enough grit.

PSYCHLONA is not known for crafting concept albums or long-run narratives about Nordic gods or esoteric rituals and “Warped Vision” is no exception. Is there some common theme that interweaves the eight tracks on this album? Other than smooth buzzing riffs and cosmic vibe lyrics, I really don’t know. The truth is, I don’t go to PSYCHLONA to satisfy some intellectual itch; I go to them for desert grooves.

If you have been following PSYCHLONA since their 2018 debut, you’ll notice “Warped Vision” shifts into a lower gear. The tempo and melody slow up a bit, but more than all that we get a closer listen to Phil Hey’s vocals. It turns out he sounds a lot like DAVID GILMOUR, which I think drives the many comparisons to PINK FLOYD. This is especially true on tracks like placid tracks like “Smoke” and “Split,” and “Magic Carpet.” While I enjoy these three tracks, I prefer PSYCHLONA when they are living into the stereotype of their earlier more raucous days. This comes through on killer tracks like “Jasmine,” “Let’s Go,” and “Kaleidoscope.” If you want to split the difference, Doom-laden tracks such as “Cut Loose” and “Topanga” will fit the bill.

When “Warped Vision” hit the scene, I was a little concerned, wondering if they had been able to maintain their musical integrity over the last few difficult years. I was also worried when I saw they had changed 50% of their lineup. I’m happy to say my concerns were unwarranted. While they have clearly evolved more in the last two years than they have in their first four—partially due to a new lineup—you could easily say they have evolved for the better. Some fans may find this off-putting. I find it refreshing and intriguing.