Naxatras are an interesting Greek psychedelic/space rock band, who hail from Thessaloniki. Naxatras have previously released one album and an EP. Both of which pack some pretty fine psychedelic rock with stoner influences in a somewhat bluesy atmosphere. Their latest album however might be their best release to date. The album is laconically titled ''II'' and came out just a little while ago this year.
The first track of this album is titled ''Oort Cloud'' and is pretty much a simple psych intro. The second track ''Proxima Centauri'' however packs some really fine eerie psychedelic rock with krautrock and space rock influences. The track is propelled forward by a fine bassline that is layered with some echo driven and somewhat eerie and bluesy psych guitars, and topped off by a heavier stoner infleunced heavy psych ending. All in all it might be the best track on the album. It is highly addictive and catchy in a positive way. Essentially similar remarks could be made about the fourth track ''The Great Attractor'' as well, while ''The Garden of Senses'' tends to pack some heavier stoner riffage in a fine heavy psych coating. Roughly the same can be said about ''Sisters of the sun'' too, but this track tends to lean more towards conventional stoner, and is also the only track with vocals. The last track of the album tends to be more of an outro to my ear.
In general ''II'' from Naxatras is a pretty fine psych rock album that has about 2-3 very good songs and some okay ones. The album is pretty well-balanced between some heavier stoner riffage and some more psyched out kraut and space rock influenced repetition. As far as 2016 goes then it is definitely one of the psych rock releases worth checking out.
Some useful links:
Bandcamp: https://naxatras.bandcamp.com/album/ii
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/4516932-Naxatras
