JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES

Vertigo SVART

Finland’s occult psych rockers cast a dazzling, dizzy spell

The fourth LP from these leading lights of last decade’s occult rock revival is aptly named. It’s not only a homage to the legendary 70s swirl label that provided some of the record’s most crucial touchstones – the weighty darkness of Black Sabbath, the kinetic boogie of Status Quo, the Hammond-driven dramatics of Uriah Heep – but also as a neat allusion for the woozy, unbalanced nature of their supernatural jams. Even so, this Finnish troupe never cross the line into hippy-dippy selfindulgence. Tempos are sprightly and exuberant – except for some bluesy doom in epic closer Strange Earth Illusion – while their structures get ever sharper. Marauding earworms like Talking Board, Born To Kill

and World Paranormal

prove that Jess and co remain some of the savviest operators in this lurid realm. ■■■■■■■■■■

FOR FANS OF: Coven, Graveyard, Ghost

CHRIS CHANTLER