Mythic Sunship – “Maelstrom”

Wasn’t expecting another burner out of Mythic Sunship this soon after their unstoppable Another Shape of Psychedelic Music and live set from Roadburn, Changing Shapes. The double shot established the band as a force in free rock — moving between psychedelia, metal, and free jazz with a mercurial ease. The secret to their more recent burn has been the addition of sax player Søren Skov, whose untethered skronk pushes the band’s titanium-hammered heaviness into a zone that’s more erratic and yet laser-focused in its approach to smashing the senses. I’m a bit surprised to see the band wander from their home at El Paraiso Records, as the Danish label has been almost synonymous with the Copenhagen quartet, but the release of Wildfire on April 2nd sees the band popping up Stateside with Tee Pee records on the sleeve. From the sounds of the immense, 10+ minute first taste of “Maelstrom,” this one doesn’t seem like the band is lessening their hold on the hammer anytime soon.