A truly satisfying, cohesive concept-heavy psych album can feel immensely rewarding—when there’s a sense of drama, varied soundscapes, and a conclusion that brings you back to where you began.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have delivered such works with remarkable consistency, and now Longheads from London join the conversation. Their latest album, Layers Of Wax (Stolen Body), is indeed a layered and polished creation.
The band originates from a heavy, droning psych rock foundation, and while they’ve been releasing albums at a fast clip, none have been as consistently strong as this one.
The opener, Witches Stash, swells with dramatic intensity—trippy, wild, and sludge-laden. This leads into the three-part Deathcap Farmer, which shifts gears into lighter, spacey tones. The heavy drone doesn’t disappear entirely but recedes into the background.
From there, the album flows like a drifting spaceship. Each track balances between heaviness and levity, skillfully weaving through thrash and doom, offering moments of chaos alongside deep calm.
The journey culminates in the crushing closer, Mouth Of Fire, leaving no desires unmet. “Mind-melting” is the perfect way to describe it.
Longheads – Layers Of Wax: Heavy psych with plenty of room to explore. – RIFL
