Album review: Alunah – Strange Machine

Alunah have been a fixture on the UK doom circuit for more than 15 years now, albeit with a few line-up changes along the way, but they still have a few new tricks up their wizard’s sleeve. Hailing from Birmingham, they appear to have Black Sabbath imprinted on their DNA. Those monolithic yet graceful riffs are still present and correct but on their sixth full-length album the band veer off at times on a more psychedelic trip.

The title-track kicks things off with a swirl of space-rock FX lifted straight from the saddle of Hawkwind’s Silver Machine before the expected elephantine riff lurches into view. There are still more surprise shifts on offer though, as they bring in a consciousness-expanding chant before reverting to the back-to-basics groove of Over The Hills.

Fade Into Fantasy ushers in more audio colours and floating atmospherics while singer Siân Greenaway, now fully ensconced in her role, gives full rein to her hugely impressive – and expressive – vocals. Psychedelic Expressway is an even bigger departure, with jangly ’60s acid-pop riffs and a jaunty flute that’s more Arthur Lee’s Love than Blood Ceremony.

That isn’t to say they’ve completely flipped to the psychedelic side, though. There are plenty of doomy neck-shakers on display as a line-up that has been revamped once more continues to hold onto the band’s roots. Silver rampages past like Orange Goblin at last orders, while the closing one-two of Teaching Carnal Sins and Dead Woman Walking take more of a heavy blues tack.

Strange Machine retains everything that have made Alunah so appealing while spiking the mix with a potent new dose of something new. Prepare for lift-off!

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Lucifer, Green Lung, Jess And The Ancient Ones

Strange Machine is released on 15 April via Heavy Psych Sounds