There’s nothing quite like hearing a new Lo-Pan album for the first time. Or the second time. Or the third time, for that matter… see where we’re going with this? It’s an experience no matter how many times you dive in and, similar to the late Torche, Lo-Pan have this way about their sound that brings a great sense of joy regardless of the heaviness being expelled from however one chooses to listen to their music. Maybe it’s some magical chord the band have found or maybe it’s that unmistakable shining croon constantly coming out of vocalist Jeff Martin that elevates it all. Regardless of all that conjecture, we’re just happy that Lo-Pan’s brand of blissful noise is back on new album Get Well Soon.
Contained on the Ohio quartet’s first album in almost six years is nine tracks of bombastic bliss that sounds like they never left which can be immediately heard the instant “The Good Fight” starts surrounded by a wall of noise that’s propulsive yet profound. “Northern Eyes” is chippy and chippier, bringing Chris Thompson’s guitars to the forefront alongside Jesse Bartz’s stick-tastic (Not a word) drumming prowess as Martin delivers yet another uplifting vocal performance.
“Wormwood” is a riff monger? Or is that riff monster? There’s a lot of riffage going on in this one, okay? “Ozymandias” appears next and is a crunchy ditty where Thompson’s guitars and Scott Thompson’s bass sounds merge into one fierce force of fuzzed out fury as Bartz’s sticks bring the thunder. “Rogue Wave” is another where Thompson puts on a masterclass in shredding with the other Thompson’s bass and Bartz’s drums absolutely locking in especially later on when the Thompson of the Chris variety goes a soloin’.
“Harpers Ferry” is most likely not like the former venue in Allston but still sounds rad as hell while “Stay with the Boat” has a low end melody to start from Thompson that is a cross between both (the)melvins and Filter’s most iconic stuff of the later ’90’s. “God’s Favorite Victim” is a gnarly anthem with Martin giving a peak performance that’s absolutely stunning… that is, until the next mammer jammer stops by which happens to be the massive almost eight minute closing number (Off by 2 seconds!) called “Six Bells” and slays for the entirety of that time taking Lo-Pan through an array of styles and moods to make their mark as they finish another fabulous offering.
Get Well Soon arrives through Magnetic Eye Records on April 4th and you can get your fix and fill on release date by doing your pre-savin’ and pre-orderin’ here. For more from Lo-Pan, follow the trail of socials across the interwebs by clicking here or here.