French psychonauts Jagannatha first wowed us with their self-titled debut "Jagannatha"(2016), a mind-blowing collection of instrumental workouts that mixed heavy stoner riffs with lysergic laced forays into the way out and the far away. Three years later the band followed up with "Samsara" a stunning three song opus that proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that these guys were not just one trick ponies and that when it come to instrumental jams they were way ahead of the chasing pack. This year (2022) the band return with "Trimurti" their third album, now third albums are often described as "difficult" due to the higher levels of expectation attached to them but the only thing "difficult" about "Trimuti" is turning it off and not playing it over and over again.
Things kick off discordant and noisy with "Agni", droning effects and feedback the introduction to a song that never ever stays too long in one place, heavy fuzz drenched bass and guitar riffs constantly trading places with liquid bottom end and ringing arpeggios driven by a mixture of thunderous and restrained percussion. At times listening to "Agni" is like being caught in one of those storms that mark the end of Winter and the beginning of Spring, furious and blustering one moment serene and pleasant the next. "Surya", in contrast, has a more Autumn/Fall into Winter feel with its easy on the ear fusion flavoured beginnings slowly being replaced by a more strident and heavy dynamic touched with elements of the blues and heavy prog, those metaphorical reddish brown leaves that were slowly drifting down to earth in the first part of this piece suddenly being whipped viciously from the trees in a whirlwind of tumultuous groove. Things are brought to an unwanted conclusion with "Vayu" and if we are going to continue this analogy with the seasons of the year then this song is all four seasons hitting in just one single day, it is a song that is in turn bombastic, head spinning and languid yet despite its often shifting dynamics it is a song that remains focused and on point from start to finish, the band regularly taking the music off on wonderfully unexpected tangents but managing to always find their way back again or as fellow Bandcamper Dave Aftandilian described it on the bands Bandcamp page "a transcendent listening experience steeped in fire, sun, and wind"
Those of you who just can't get their heads around music lacking a vocal spearhead are not going to be convinced by a few words from Desert Psychlist to suddenly change your views BUT if you are toying with taking a leap into the instrumental pool then "Trimurti" would be an excellent place for you to make a start.
Check it out ....
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