Sleestak - The Fall of Altrusia (2011)

In the Land of the Lost TV series (1974–1976) the Sleestaks were green humanoids with both reptilian and insectoid features; they have scaly skin with frills around the neck, bulbous unblinking eyes, pincer-like hands, stubby tails, and a single blunt horn on top of the head, and bear a resemblance to the hypothetical "Dinosauroid". Sleestaks often communicate with a hissing sound that rarely changes in characteristics.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin Sleestak are a four piece band of humans; they have fair skin with hair on their heads, fur on their chins, five fingers, no tails nor horns and they communicate with their own brand of psychedelic Stoner/Doom Metal that's ever changing in character, size and shape and 'The Fall of Altrusia' is their second album from 2011.

Comprised of seven individual chapters, 'The Fall of Altrusia' plays out as one continuous free flowing fifty minute piece of music that features swirling proggy keyboards alongside an ever changing style of stoner/doom metal, psychedelic rock and sludge that takes me on an empyrean journey through space and time. From slow, nearly ambient moments to heavy headbanging parts, totally tripped out psychedelia, desperate dirges and utterly epic mind bending excursions - Sleestak is simply fantastic!

Vocals appear in both a cleanly sung manner with plenty of echo attached as well as a shouted/growled style not to distant from most sludge artists, but generally vocals and lyrics are kept to a minimum. The lyrics in question also do revolve around the Land of the Lost series, which I probably saw as a child, but have long forgotten since.

Since the album plays out as one long song its sort of hard to pick a favorite, but, 'Chapter 1 - In The Beginning' is quite an excellent and engaging song since it feels like it has everything the albums has to offer and prepares the listener for the adventure ahead perfectly, while, 'Chapter 3 - The Prophecy Of The Great Sleep' shows off strong sludge and psychedelic traits all at once as well as just a totally rockin' Black Sabbath jam at the end of the song. The seventeen minute beast, 'Chapter 6 - The Marshall Prophecy' is also stunning with so much going on and the last song, 'Chapter 7 - Pakuni Shaman Chant Of The Altrusian Moth' is mostly calm, but features words in some strange language, I'd guess a language from the series. Generally though the music is beautiful, well composed, catchy and absolutely ablaze with passion.

Recorded by both the band and Shane Olivio at Bobby Perus Recording Studio in Milwaukee, the sound is pristine and dynamic and allows space and enough room for all the instruments to shine through brilliantly. I point this out simply because it seems like most Wisconsin metal-related artists almost always have a lo-fi production, but that's not the case here at all as this is professional in ever way and to think that Sleestak are an unsigned band too. The layout of booklet is minimal, but interesting enough and the included stickers will find a place on my car's bumper later on as well.

Sleestak has been writing and playing live for nearly a decade now, but only released their debut, 'Skylon Express' in 2010, which to me shows that they know the value in rehearsing and mastering their craft before bombarding the masses with just another release and fortunately here on their sophomore effort they sound absolutely glowing. Definitely a band I'll need to catch live soon too. More generally speaking though if you like any combination of early Porcupine Tree, Yes and Pink Floyd mixed with Clutch and Black Sabbath then you'll want to add this album to your collection immediately.