I consume a lot of heavy music – not just here at this publication but in my waking life. If I’m not searching for new releases to cover on The Showcase or to share on the Crushed Monocle Podcast, I’m enjoying the classics. Be it thrash, noise, or whatever the label, heavier music comforts for me. However, if you avoid challenges in your musical life, you can enter a stagnant state of laziness. This proves especially true for anyone listens to metal or any of its many sub-genres. Boredom is the last thing you want to experience on a album.
I thought of often when listening to Lady Of Many Faces, the new album from Moon Goons.
Hailing from Indianapolis, IN, and firmly routed in the city’s ever-growing psych scene, Moon Goons first drew acclaim with their debut album Space Trash in 2018. Fast forward a few more releases, and the band has solidified itself as a bright spot in a genre that generally revels in the dark and gritty.
Say what you want about psych and noise rock, but Moon Goons is about as unpredictable as you can get! Right from the jump, Lady Of Many Faces begins with the frantic “Larvae Lamp”. The twisty wah-wah riff followed by a hint of discord shredding lets you know this isn’t a mainstream pop record. The layered vocals add some ominous flavors as well. The next few songs further expand on this vibe, but when the time you arrive at the second half, the album has evolved into something different altogether.
With “Ego Feeder,” the tension gives way to a focused groove that puts Moon Goons in more prog rock territory. The following track, “Doom Tomb Giant,” is almost cinematic in its visuals. Throughout the weirdness, you could miss that Lady Of Many Faces is actually a concept album, not just in sound but in storytelling. Is the band’s story of phantoms, wizards, and prophecies important to the listening experience? I wouldn’t say so – it was lost on me, if I’m being honest – but it’s a fantastic incentive for repeat listening!
Replayability is one of the most interesting aspects of Lady Of Many Faces.
It also helps that Moon Goons clearly know when to play to their strengths. After my first listen, I immediately flipped the LP back to side A and played it again. That’s something I rarely do with pysch albums. Most of the time, I need a break to let experimentation sink in. Yes, this talented band has developed a rich sonic tapestry of Moon Goons, but they’ve created an album that’s inexplicably addicting! I want to listen over and over again, focusing on a different aspect each time. After several playthroughs, I’m still not sure what I enjoy the most: the production or the overall weirdness!
And that’s where I found the long-term appeal of Lady Of Many Faces. On one hand, I pick on the subtle nods to Rush and the influence of late 70s ‘prog. Yet on the other, this band defies explanation. They proudly live in a weird little corner of the already bizarre corner of the psych-rock scene. Without a doubt, Moon Goons has delivered one of the strangest and most compelling albums of 2024, and it’s anything but boring.
Lady Of Many Faces is available on vinyl at Romanus Records.