It’s always interesting to see when musicians jump from project to project and do a complete musical 180 in the process. But from hardcore punk to psych blues is novel one.

Going by New York quartet Dead Heavens’s resumes there’s little to suggest an interest or talent for psychedelic blues: frontman Walter Schreifels is best known for being in hardcore and post-hardcore bands such as Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, and Rival Schools, guitarist Paul Kostabi was previously with White Zombie, drummer Drew Thomas was with Youth of Today, and bassist Nathan Aguilar played live for Indie outfit Cults.

However, Dead Heaven’s debut album Whatever Witch You Are (Dine Alone) is a surprisingly satisfying slab of retro-cool. Described in the promotional material as a “a new-millennium Fresh Cream”, it’s a blend of loose 60s rock and pop, blues, and psychedelia, with none of the indulgent 20-minute jams or substance-induced excess that dog a lot records from that time.

The languid and swampy ‘Basic Cable’ has an air of The Greenhornes or Raconteurs-like melody about it, ‘Away from the Speed’ is simple garage rock with some loose guitar solos, ‘Bad Luck Child’ is pure Jimi Hendrix meets Cream. Occasionally you might pick up tones of latter-day Beatles.

For a group of guys who have built their career making far harsher music, there’s a fair amount of charm across the 35-minute runtime. The restrained ‘The Moon Will Listen (But Not the Sun)’ switches tac towards the and cuts loose with a heaviest guitar moments of the album, and lead single ‘Adderall Highway’ is the closest thing to a true galloping rock number. The latter half of the eight minute ‘Gold Tooth’ drags things down a little, but is far from terrible and the only real negative in an otherwise enjoyable half hour.

Whatever Witch You Are is a complete throwback album, one steeped in worship of simpler times. But it never feels hackneyed or phoned in. It’s a solid and enjoyable record for anyone hankering for a fresh dose of retro cool a la The White Album, Disraeli Gears, or Electric Ladyland.

8.0/10

DAN SWINHOE