Stoner metal and psychedelic rock have been raging underground — and occasionally, aboveground — for decades at this point, so when a band comes along and fits nicely into those genres without sounding schmaltzy or tired, you know they've got real talent. With today's release of the nearly nine-minute single "Mirrors of Trigon," Des Moines, Iowa–based stoner-doom trio Druids are proving themselves among the scene's notable and worthy acts.
While expansive and patient, "Mirrors" — which will appear on the group's forthcoming LP, Monument — never lacks movement and intrigue. The riffs are contagiously filthy, headbangingly heavy, and set to a commanding beat that forms a steel backbone to the probing wails in the foreground. With distorted vocals that sound like they come from beneath a layer of grit and wrath, the track is a scorching entry in the halls of psych rock and stands out from the crowd with its unwillingness to sacrifice fury for exploration.
The band claim the track was as good a time to create as it is to hear. "'Mirrors of Trigon' was definitely the most fun song on Monument to write," explains vocalist and guitarist Luke Rauch. "We kept coming up with riffs and grooves that we wanted to throw into a song, without making it feel like a nine-minute–long song."
Rauch adds, "Keeping things moving and having a solid arrangement were the biggest challenges. Lyrically, 'Mirrors' is based on a person's experience when their life is at an end. The person has done something unspeakable and realizes they're running out of time for redemption."
Druid's Monument is available for pre-order in digital and physical formats, with its release slated for April 19th.
