Sun Voyager - Sun Voyager (2022) Hi-Res

Sun Voyager’s sound more directly hearkens back to classic psychedelic rock. Sun Voyager’s upcoming release of its self-titled album on October 7th this year is an invigorating blend of nostalgic psychedelia and modern psych-rock that dabblers and connoisseurs alike will appreciate. The band’s music has been compared to contemporary psychedelic rock staples like Dead Meadow and Earthless. While bands like Earthless tend towards vast instrumental exploration, Sun Voyager’s sound more directly hearkens back to classic psychedelic rock. The 13th Floor Elevators and Syd Barrett-fronted Pink Floyd come readily to mind. The adrenaline-coursing sound of Sun Voyager comes with modern psych-rock evolution and a style that is authentically their own. The band is making its way as a robust trio comprised of Carlos Valle on guitar and vocals, Stefan Mersch on bass, and Kyle Beach on drums.

Formed in 2012, the members of Sun Voyager paid their dues in New York’s Hudson Valley music scene, long considered to be an incubator of experimental psychedelic rock. After the release of their 2018 debut album Seismic Vibes, the band’s relentless touring provided the laboratory in which they have refined their sound. Listening to the new album, one will take notice of a masterful formula. Sometimes when we hear the word “formula,” we may think of it as limiting. This is not so for Sun Voyager. They have been able to assemble a framework that their talents sear through.

In an early-released track from the upcoming album, “God is Dead II,” one immediately recognizes the pounding bass and haunting vocals for which Sun Voyager is known. The beginning of the song is riff-driven, pushing listeners into an exhilarating free fall. Halfway through the song, a wider psychedelic space opens, pulling the rip cord on our parachutes as we float pleasantly in the air. The psychedelic space expands until the driving riff returns to provide a steady landing.