THE CRIMSON TRIP ~ Mexican psychanauts request you join them in THE ORDER OF THE OCCULT

Mexico is a country I really know very little of, having lived in the UK all my life and only having travelled around the holiday destinations of southern Europe the only knowledge I have of the country is what I have read in books/online, or what I have been fed via the medium of film and television, and as for the Mexican music scene I probably knew even less! Well that was until I signed up to Bandcamp and discovered that Mexico, as well as other Central and South American counties, has a very healthy and vibrant "underground" scene. The Crimson Trip are part of this scene and have just released their second album "The Order Of The Occult".

"Order Of The Occult" follows on from the bands excellent self titled 2014 debut with the same mix of dark doom riffage and heavy psych experimentation that made that release such a joy, this time around though they have added a bit of spit and polish, sanded off some raw edges  and added a touch of light and shade to their gritty grooves.

Title track "Order Of The Occult" starts things off in grand style, bursting out of the speakers with an Iommi-esque circular lick from guitarist Iron Jared before exploding into a pummelling riff augmented by the tight rhythmic work of Alberto L Martinez (bass) and Luis Mtz (drums) and all topped off with the truly astounding vocals of frontman Tony Orta. If  by now your not already hooked, then by the time you get to the songs middle section with it's drone/psych breakdown and Orta's plea to "Do it for Satan" you will be.
The rest of the album follows in a similar vein of heavily psyched doom and stoner attitude with songs full of occult themes and dark satanic dealings that are expertly executed and delivered and although I don't want to single one person out for individual praise (everyone is on top form) I do have to give a big shout to the incredible vocals of Tony Orta.
Tony Orta's vocals are, it has to be said, slightly accented and a little bit undisciplined at times but this in no way detracts from their effect, in fact it is these vocals that give The Crimson Trip their own unique sound. Orta soars, moans, rasps and roars over and around these dark grooves with glorious abandon, not shackled by any conventional style or form his voice gives the music an edge that may have been lost with a more conventional frontman, an edge that takes The Crimson Trip from being also-rans to contenders.