Blaak Heat Shujaa are an interesting psychedelic/stoner rock band from Los Angeles, who have released several notable psych rock/stoner albums through the years. Their latest album ''Shifting Mirrors'' came out earlier this year, but their best album to date is probably their self-titled debut album, which they released back in 2010. What is interesting about Blaak Heat Shujaa is probably their mixture of stoner rock and psychedelia with a somewhat distinct Eastern feel to it in parts.
The first track on the album is titled ''High On Altitude'' and it starts off in a pretty mellow way and with a clear Eastern psych feel, only to move into some fine stoner rock riffage and a captivating transcendental psych ending. A truly awesome track. The second track feels like a rather boring funky interlude track making way to some fine stoner and psych heavyness of ''M.I.A'' and ''Brown Buffalo''. Both of these tracks are great and they tend to have quite a bit of variation as well. Thus being structured in a somewhat prog rock way. The tracks are catchy and memorable, and even tend to have a nice bluesy psych feel to them in parts. The fifth track ''Where You At'' also does not hold back on anything, and packs some really catchy psychedelic stoner riffage and some cool vocals. Making it a truly memorable over 10 minute track. There is nothing bad to say about the last four tracks as well. All of them pack some fine stoner riffage that is often very catchy in a good way, with ''The Pest'' standing out the most among those tracks for my taste.
The debut album of Blaak Heat Shujaa definitely deserves more credit than it has so far gotten within the discography of this fine band. The album has few weak points and packs some very interesting stoner infused psychedelia from start to finish. Sometimes moving in more conventional stoner rock realms, while at other points flirting with Eastern influenced psychedelia and psych structured in a prog way with plenty of variation. An album definitely worth checking out.
Some useful links:
High On Altitude - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njYf72fCOAA
Discogs - https://www.discogs.com/Blaak-Heat-Shujaa-Blaak-Heat-Shujaa/release/2470118
