Meatbodies Create Metallic Psych Classic With ‘ALICE’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

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Meatbodies are a three piece psych-rock outfit from Los Angeles, California but they sure do like to travel the outer space waves of ear canals and minds. Chad Ubovich, Kevin Boog and Patrick Nolan construct odd sprawling sounds that mix clashing metallic with sweet and saccharine on ALICE, the group’s sophomore release.

There are flashes of Ween, older Flaming Lips, mid-60’s era nugget bands, Pink Floyd light-prog and a touch of Black Sabbath all over the album as the group sprinkles in a bit of madness with their pop rock. Opening with found sounds and rising noise the band crashes into “Kings”. The track is chock full of feedback and head bobbing tempo while the effects pedals get a workout; the band soars all around the sun preparing the listener for the upcoming journey.

The title track feels like a literal drug trip with dripping feedback layers, guitar solo’s, ooh and ahh’s about “Alice” and forest creatures all the same. That warped sense of adventure permeates everything here, tracks like “Scavenger” and “Touchless” manage to mix beauty and filth with ease creating an uneasy, yet still appealing, final product.

The first single from the disk “Haunted History” takes all of these motifs and pushes them together with a touch of swagger and snarl. “Gyre” also tries to tie up all of the bands influences but does so in an odd way that doesn’t work as well. That track, along with some inconsequential lyrics (a problem with this genre in general) are the only down points on the disk though.

“Creature Feature” ups the groove with its bass and rhythmic guitar ringing successfully, all around stoppages for freak out vocals while “Disciples” and “Count Your Fears” both contain heavier stomps and marching (highlighted by the drumming) to match the sonic riffage and warbling experimentation present. An intriguing album that works well in headphones and on huge sound systems that can handle the swirling sonic palettes the group present; ALICE is clearly a stop on the cosmic highway for fans of adventurous rock and roll in 2017.