Asbury Park’s own Little Dickman Records is back with another brand new group and a record to match their proverbial mouth. Little Dickman has continued to be the frontrunner of bringing new music to the traditionally slanted area since their inception. Big on new sounds and young bands, they focus all their energy on directing attention to the real sounds of the Jersey Shore. Like many of us, they refuse to kowtow to glory days names who haven’t done a damned thing for the music scene in a very long time.
Their latest group to make a big splash is Psychiatric Metaphors. Listing their hometown as the void, Psychiatric Metaphors are a band with something different to say and a fast, loud vehicle to say it with.
As their bio states, “Psychiatric Metaphors promises to launch you straight into space (if you weren’t already on your way there) with their echo-riddled, psych-garage sound. Heavier on the shout vocals than most psych bands might ever dare; these guys are edging toward bad trip territory. ‘Groovy’ is not the word you’re looking for—it’s more of a psychedelic heart attack. But life ain’t a smooth cruise down the love canal every day of the week, and Psychiatric Metaphors are here to remind you that breakdowns can and will happen.”
Psychiatric Metaphors is music from the mind of Sam Taylor. This is psychedelic punk music that will take you through the inner workings of your mind and back again. The band urges you to “sit back and enjoy music for a trip.” All music is written, played, recorded and produced by Sam Taylor.
Out in support of their brand new self-titled EP and 7″, Psychedelic Metaphors are brimming with angst, action, and undiluted rock fury. Little Dickman was kind enough to send me the music and here’s what I’ve come up with for my review.
The disc opens with the sonic explosions of “Black Mass.” Combining the dark and dirty imagery of Black Sabbath in form when they were good in the ’60s, “Black Mass” is not your average feel-good love song. Deep, demented guitar riffs are the force of the day as Sam Taylor blows his echoed vocals out over the top of this sinister-sounding number. When describing this song, Taylor says it best. “Born of deep space, dark matter seeped from the infinite depths of the void, and summoned mystical creatures of fuzz, culminating in the heavy psychedelic experience known as ‘Black Mass’.”
“Strange Meat” rolls out next. Bass riffs chop under frenzied guitar attacks and solid drum work before Taylor enters with his Ian Curtis-vibed vocals. Taylor and guitarist Mike Bongi work well together and between the two of them they shred this song with walls and walls of feedback-drenched grunge the likes of nothing else heard right now. Rhythms all meld together between guitar salvos to present an entirely imperfect romp into the world of punk. If you dig the early sounds of Joy Division and The Dead Boys, you’re gonna love “Strange Meat.”
“The Parasite” comes next, and there’s no slowing down so far. Taylor hammers his compositions hard and heavy, leaning on pure emotion and attitude over the tedious methods of most pop writers. This is another “balls to the wall” tune filled with dangerous curves and wild unrepentant sounds.
The band opens up a bit on “Say Her Name.” Guitar chords jangle openly as drums smack in an isolated introduction. There is way more space in this song than the previous three. Taylor chops his rhythms as Bongi lays down sonic blasts of lead guitar that sound like they come straight from Mars. Pat Brenner and Mike Nugent are solid as a rock and nail this strange beast to the tarmac. The ending measures of this song slide down the slope in high bursts of melting movement.
“Stoned And Alone” is up next. Solid drum beats kick off the song as Taylor or Bongi cut sharp, echoed guitar chords over the top. Once things take effect, Bongi and Taylor romp all over the compositional field, layering sheer pandemonium all over the piece. Primary and lacking any frills at all, “Stoned And Alone” puts out the psychedelic spotlight as it jumps back and forth over the field of play until its inevitable fiery conclusion.
“Apeirophobia” takes center stage next and doesn’t disappoint. Staggered layers of guitar brilliance dance back and forth over drum and bass before settling into frenetic blankets of feedback and distortion. The band hammers their piece all the way to the barn, and it’s a doozy for sure.
Psychiatric Metaphors is a young group that knows what it wants and gives exactly that to its audiences. Guitars quake and moan over the top of heavy-duty rhythms and echo-laden vocal invasions like nobody’s business. I would love to see this band live as I’m sure they reproduce what you hear on disc the same, which can only mean an incredible and breathtaking cacophony.
The group will host their record release on August 25 at Shea Stadium in Brooklyn (w/ Super FM, Fruit & Flowers, and Ex-Girlfriends. Psychiatric Metaphors’ live band is: Sam Taylor – vocals, guitar; Mike Bongi – guitar, vocals; Pat Brenner – bass, vocals; and Mike Nugent – drums.
For more information on Psychiatric Metaphors and their new, self-titled disc, head over to littledickman.com.
