A day with a new Bus, the Unknown Secretary (better known as BUS) LP is a victorious day for sunny Psych Rock with attitude from Californ--err, I mean, Athens, Greece. The tones found on this record sound as if they were pulled out of the desert and dusted off before instantly being thrown onto a Psychedelic Heavy Metal album. BUS has had a fairly quiet couple of years, with their previous album, The Unknown Secretary, having been released in 2016; they've finally given us a new full-length, and they're sounding more powerful than ever!
Never Meant channels a post-apocalyptic world that doesn't care even a little that it's post-apocalyptic. The people in this fictional world seem quite willing and thrilled to have their brains melted and deteriorated. Maybe it's overrun by giant chickens that have been genetically altered and mutated through GMOs, but that's just a guess. Whatever the circumstances, it's equally pleasant as it is dreadful; hopeful as it is condemned, and amusing as it is terrifying.
Being released on Riding Easy Records on February 28, 2019, you know you're getting holy guitar work directly written by the gods, and placed into the fingers of men. Dual guitars battle each other with combatting leads and blistering riffs that put a sweet, fiery taste on your tongue that merits repeated consumption. Passionate vocals scale the summit erected by the scintillating riffs. A brilliant low-end bass gives the backbone to the band, as it's meant to. Galloping rhythms on top of everything else take control of your mind, and your body.
Every one of the songs on this thing shine all the way from beginning to end, each with its own identity and purpose. It's filled with hooks that crawl into your skin, and latch on like a salubrious parasite. My favorite track here would have to be the approprately-titled "Lucifer." The opening crawl of this song channels a 90s Swans-esque atmosphere before propelling into a slow-moving evil jam. "I Buried Paul" is a close second for me, and truly stands out in the collection of tracks as a misty psychedelic number, and you'll be lost within its march.
Nothing more needs to be sad about the brilliant cover art that it doesn't say on its own. It's easily my favorite album artwork of 2019 so far, I can't stare at it long enough! Come listen to the inviting new BUS full-length, and feel your mind warp underneath heavy quantities of mythical poisoning. Feel it take hold of your mind, and succumb to its alluring, menacing vibe. Wherever BUS goes, you'll want to be there for the ride.
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