They were peddled to us as The Monsters of the Stoner Trade. Alleged substance-fueled, blasted-into-space fare that should somehow remind us what the ’70s were like. A record written by people who never visited because – well – they weren’t invented yet. So, the RMR crew expected some sturdy, syrupy sludgefest heading our way. And some were already rushing to dig out that old, blackened peace pipe from wherever they stored it decades ago. That the band is tastily called Stoned Jesus1 probably hastened the overall fogginess even further along. Some of the crew started to have visions by that time.
But not so fast. Just assuming stuff will land you where the sun don’t shine. After all, we might not find a replica of the ’70s. Besides, y’all might not like the hairstyles and colorful, funky shirts of that era. Let her roll, oh mighty Stoned One. The RMR crew’s all smoked up and all ears.
Well, I daresay, the record’s moniker, Songs To Moon, didn’t really put our worries at rest, either. The act could turn out moonstruck after all, right? But fear naught, Under The Skin, the first track, positively roars off with Gojira‘s idea of how an out-of-control, modern-time stoner something should could sound. Could. Because Stoned Jesus will show their true colors shortly thereafter. In fact, this particular moonshine here hasn’t really chosen the ’70s as its particular hill to die on. Instead, the RMR crew found this somewhat wild mix of Progressive and Alternative Metal, Post Rock and Metal, and some pretty tasty acoustic excursions. The stoner theme only timidly raises its head, somewhat as an afterthought. Not always, but during some select stretches of the record. This, together with a finely chiseled flow that appears here and there, creates some astonishing groove along the tracklist.
Meaning, Songs to Moon contains more Opeth and earlier Dawnwalker than this crew ever expected. And we fully agree with Igor Sydorenko that you can’t deny Zep and Sabbath in those lush soundscapes. You see, Stoned Jesus excel at creating elaborate yet moody sonic constructs that encompass all of the aforementioned styles and flavors in short order. That’s a pretty impressive level of songsmithery right there.
And to prove this crew wrong, Velvet, the second track of the lot, delivers a deliciously sludgy stoner piece waltzing in on mid-tempo beatz with enough repetitions to impress Chalice of Suffering2. Yet, psychedelic and juicily effective prog excursions also form part of that track list. Jackal, the progressive go-to track on Songs to Moon, would warrant a review of its own.3 Exuding vibes of Caligula’s Horse in parts, this track even contains a monologue-ish rant gone tremolo-laden rap and other psychedelically infected gems. And talking of which, the otherwise unremarkable Window in my Room carries those delicious echoes of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Syzygy, the band’s first-ever instrumental, really took us by storm with its quiet groove and delicious flow.
In the end, Songs to Moon didn’t bombard this crew with an avalanche of vile metal. Instead, this reviewer got a proficient dose of pretty outstanding, usually mid-tempo Progressive and Alternative Metal. One that won’t deny its penchant for the stoner crowd, true. But the record also seamlessly integrates a slew of psychedelic elements, outstanding acoustic pieces, and subtle changes in moods and flavors that make it stand out from the crowd. Stoned Jesus are a pigheaded bunch with some funky ideas on style direction and execution. Yet the outcome dazzled the RMR crew more than once.
And for this alone, we salute them.
Record Rating: 8/10 | Label: Season of Mist | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 16 October 2026