by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Austin, TX has long been a breeding ground for some of the world’s best psych rock bands, a fertile city in the sun for things to get weird. Continuing that proud lineage is The Hermits, a trio set to expand on the promise of last year’s tour tape with their self-titled debut, out February 28th via Austin Town Hall (ATH) Records. The band’s sound is rooted in retro psych, grunge fuzz, and power-pop swoon, a dreamy affair that’s full of melodic bite.
“Teeth of the Mountain” is the band’s second single, a tightly wound earworm that circles around a swaying pop melody and reverb accentuated trills. The verses are broken up by deep dives into the psych pool of The Zombies and 13th Floor Elevators before them, disorienting the sugary vibes with something a bit more ominous but ultimately still shimmering in their hooky sunlight. The song’s breezy vibes are in contrast the lyrics which the band describe as “a simple story from the point of view of someone traveling to Aokigahara (suicide forest) at the base of Mount Fuji.”
The Hermits’ self-titled album is out February 28th via Austin Town Hall Records.