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Named after the legendary actor with his sinister features, Lee Van Cleef coming to get you with sinister heavy psych jams!

In their Bandcamp page Lee Van Cleef say that started as a joke – well a very good joke then ! Yes, because as you’ll hear, these are really experienced dudes from the heavy and psych rock scene of Naples (check their other bands also!). In the great school of Earthless with a touch of 70s acid rock, Lee Van Cleef presents us with the very essence of heavy psych instrumental bands: endless jamming that leads to psychedelic tripping and a sonic escapism !

How is the sound ?

The very foundation of this jamming consists of Pietro Trinità La Tegola (Whiskeycold Winter) on bass and Guido Minervini, (Efesto, Lamarck) on drums. Their rhythm section duties are beyond fine; they solidify a bedrock upon which guitarist Marco Adamo (La polvere di Bodélé) goes on an exciting riffing route.

Check for example “Mahāna” , a song reminiscent of 70s acid rock with thick structure, while Marco going down a crazy riff spiral. Within the realm of heavy psych genre, the band expresses a kind of a not so sterile sound but a little more diverse in some parts. Track number two, the gargantuan “Banshee” incorporates everything we love about this sound and their vision: bass driven with laid back drumming and layers of guitar reverb above it all.

Things are stripped down in the last song “Towelie” with repetitive rhythms and interstellar guitar melodies. In contrast, the first song titled “Heckle Yuppies” has some perplexing melodies, starting with heavy doom guitars and while the rhythm section of the band keeps pounding the guitarist sets off a riff towards a more spacey psychedelic sound in contrast to the doomy start.

In conclusion, in a typical Heavy Psych manner, the Italians Lee Van Cleef present us with 5 songs of long duration, setting the mood for extraterrestrial travel. Their songs aren’t based on a repetitive motif but the constantly evolving through jamming.

Why is this album worth listening ?

For checking what is the freshest from the Italy’s heavy psych rock scene

Amazing guitar work!

In what situation you should listen to this album ?

Early in the morning with your coffee or for late nights with a bit of booze.

Something particular to note ?

“Holy Smoke” was recorded mixed and mastered in the Godfather studio of Naples. The artwork was done by Robin Gnista.