Dead Meadow
Voyager To Voyager
Heavy Psych Sounds Records [2025]
“Heavy psych meets heartfelt tribute—Voyager To Voyager is Dead Meadow at their most transcendent.”
Album Overview: Dead Meadow, as a power-trio, has always been an impressive psychedelic machine throughout their 26-year history. With the band’s 2000 self-titled debut, they built a firm base of 1970s heavy metal and 1960s psychedelic rock that gained a fanbase and notoriety from the one and only John Peel, who asked them to record a Peel Session—this was the first time a session had been recorded outside of the BBC studio. Fast forward to today, we now have the follow-up to 2022’s more instrumental approach Force Form Free. Voyager To Voyager marks an important and emotional time in the Dead Meadow catalog, as this is the final album to feature bassist Steve Kille. Jason Simon’s (vocals, guitar) recent interview with It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine details how much the tragedy of losing Kille defined the creation of the album. Simon goes on to say, “I feel I knew Kille so well, at least creatively, that even though there were songs that reached their final form after he passed, I still felt his input—or what I felt it would have been—at so many points.” These stylistic choices even come down to the logo used on the album art, as it was the logo from the band’s debut album designed by Kille. The album is a journey across time and space that meditates to its own beat.
Musical Style: Dead Meadow has always delivered sounds in a heavy and stoner psychedelic vibe. This album lands on a meditative groove that lets the expansive songs loop and layer upon themselves. Relying a little less on the fuzz, Voyager To Voyager takes care as it goes a bit less Blue Cheer and more Hendrix.
Evolution of Sound: Usually playing with a big, burly tone, Dead Meadow adapts a bit more to the expanse of space by giving these songs a simplistic loop that causes the listener to fall into a sort of sonic meditation. This album’s trick is the layering of the song along with leads and riffs that surprise and vary as the song continues on. In the band’s later years, they’ve seemed to draw out their songs a bit more.
Artists with Similar Fire: These mystic riffs come from outer space and beyond just like the sounds of Witch, Earthless, Orb, Electric Eye, Colour Haze, Wand, FUZZ, and the Psychic Ills. What really adds a layer of fun to the album is the injection of grooves and effects that feel like they fell right out of Zep’s Physical Graffiti. I also recognize the fun throwback to the funk and float that falls out of the first two Babe Rainbow albums.
Pivotal Tracks: Starting out, “The Space Between” really sets the tone for what to expect with hazy chords and throwback grooves. “Not The Season” gives us a sleepy sway and fun string bends that pull into infinity. “The Unbound Now” gives off big, funky Babe Rainbow vibes which I really like seeing here. “Dead Tree Shake” has this real railroad, steam-engine shuffle that I can also really appreciate as the song drives on. The title track finishes by imparting a “Kashmir-esque” mysticism that really feels like the journey is just beginning even if it’s the album’s end.
Lyrical Strength: Out of the sad passing of their bandmate, Steve Kille, this album could be an exercise in mourning. However, that’s not what the band wanted to portray, and instead they intended it as a celebration. The album does touch on themes such as escapism, strain on relationships, the effects of time from a personal experience and all the way throughout the universe. The title Voyager To Voyager gives me a feeling of how bodies could be space crafts passing through the universe and sharing our other experiences with anyone we care about that enters our orbit. You know, us as voyagers sharing tales, moments, and experiences with other voyagers.
Final Groove: Dead Meadow’s Voyager To Voyager is an interesting end or continuation to the band’s legacy. Simon has said that not even he knows what’s next for the band. Voyager To Voyager is an easy voyage to whisk you away and is a worthy addition and tribute to those we love and lost. Dead Meadow forever!
DEAD MEADOW REVIEW HISTORY
Force From Free (2022) / The Nothing They Need (2018)
DEAD MEADOW LINKS
Website | Instagram | Bandcamp | Heavy Psych Sounds Records
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