Astral Bazaar - Hypnosis of the 12th Degree (2024) [Hi-Res]

On the new album, Astral Bazaar continues to explore their signature psychedelic rock style, blending playful and oriental guitar riffs with rich and layered vocal harmonies. The album also features a couple of ethereal saxophone solos and some lengthy and exciting jam sections. Compared to the band’s previous work, the song structures are more streamlined and the sounds are more organic. The psychedelic feel is rooted less in post-production and more in the band’s natural live sound – a choice partly shaped by how the album was created.

“These songs were largely born and refined through jamming together as a band. The instrument tracks were mostly recorded live in the studio to capture the feel of our live performances. Of all our albums, this one undoubtedly comes the closest to how Astral Bazaar sounds on stage,” the band explains.

Hypnosis of the 12th Degree is not a concept album in the sense that it would follow a single narrative. Instead, the songs take listeners on journeys in outer space, arid deserts, and the narrow alleys of medieval cities. What ties the album together is its exploration of surreal mental landscapes and doubts about one’s own perceptions. Whether dreaming, experiencing mirages, or falling into the depths of hypnosis, the ultimate question remains: Can imagination and reality ever truly be separated?