ALBUM REVIEW: Telekinetic Yeti - "Abominable"

By: Andre Almaraz

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 17/03/2017

Label: Sump Pump Records

All in all, the recording has a huge sound and the production is absolutely amazing. It has everything you could ever want and I would rate it as a perfect 10. The album is truly remarkable and is sure to go down in history as one of rock’s greatest debuts. These guys are definitely heavyweight contenders to find their place at the top of the scene

“Abominable” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1.Abominable

2.Electronaut

3.Stoned and Feathered

4.Colossus

5.Lightbearer

6.Apophis

7.Beneath the Black Sun

8.Himalayan Hymn

The Review:

Telekinetic Yeti is a two piece stoner/doom band from Dubuque, Iowa and their debut album, “Abominable,” has just been released in March 2017. Quite frankly, this album is a fucking monster from start to finish. Imagine a mash up between Bongzilla, Pelican, Stinking Lizaveta, and Kadavar, and that will get you close to the same universe as the one where Telekinetic Yeti’s musical mastery is born. Album opener and title track, “Abominable,” starts the recording off by lighting a mighty fuzz bomb in your ear. The song is like a left hook to the face and tips you off to hang on tight for a wild ride to come. The drummer means business and lets you know right away that he is out to blow your mind. At just over three minutes in length, the song is short, to the point, and punchy as all hell with vicious vocals to seal the deal. Although the album is mostly instrumental, there are three songs with vocals and this is one of them in a big way. 

The second song, “Electronaut,” is instrumental. It has the quintessential stoner rock/doom groove with a nice touch of prog. This one is right out of the acid soaked, psychedelic 60s scene and a perfect instrumental rocker. At just about five minutes long and drenched with gargantuan riffs, the song keeps the action going strong. Third track, “Stoned And Feathered,” answers right back with the banshee vocals. This one has more of a 70s slam groove going on. This baby is so bouncy and catchy that even the fillings in your teeth will be rocking. The use of effects and melody within it are undeniable as well as unforgettable. The band has also released a music video for the tune which is really fun to watch.

The fourth song, “Colossus,” is instrumental. This one begins with some hard rocking riffs, which is the main theme of the entire album, but then gives way to some dreamy passages adding some spacey mellowness and again, a tasteful touch of prog. This is the longest track on the album, telling its epic story with a haunting melody that will get inside your subconscious and never leave. When “Lightbearer,”kicks in, you are hearing the last song on the album with vocals. This one is a bonafide jam from start to finish with a barrage of ferocity, harmony, and melody. Sixth song, “Apophis,” is the heaviest song on the album in my opinion, making it a personal favorite as I am a huge fan of the heavier stuff and backbeat rhythms. At barely over ninety seconds in length, its untimely end is truly my only slight disappointment of the album and I sincerely hope they explore this slower, heavier, and more doomed out/sludge driven aspect of their dynamics much further in future releases.

Seventh song, “Beneath The Black Sun,” begins with that awesome mellow/spacey trip that they are so good at creating. Some high register riffing makes the bass guitar really stand out up front in this one. The album’s closing track, “Himalayan Hymn,” again begins with the mellow dreamy stuff and then kicks into become a full on chest pounder. In a nutshell, the yeti is a mystical beast. It is not only telekinetic but also a space traveler, a time traveler, and telepathic. One aspect of the album that I found particularly interesting is how Telekinetic Yeti like to start the barrage right away in their songs, and then end several of them with a relaxing outro whereas most other bands do the opposite; they tend to start their songs with long, drawn out intros, eventually building up to when the band kicks in. Telekinetic Yeti smashes you in the face right of the bat and then cools down after the assault is over. I thought that was a cool twist on the status quo of the genre which works well to their advantage. Another notable aspect that makes the band interesting and unique to me is that while three of the songs have vocals, the other five are instrumental, another cool deviation from the norm.

 All in all, the recording has a huge sound and the production is absolutely amazing. It has everything you could ever want and I would rate it as a perfect 10. The album is truly remarkable and is sure to go down in history as one of rock’s greatest debuts. These guys are definitely heavyweight contenders to find their place at the top of the scene. The drummer is an absolute beast which is something that sets this band apart from the crowd, but the songwriting and riffs are ridiculously strong as well, giving the album a surefire winning combination. I think fans of any kind of stoner, doom, and even just 70s hard rock/heavy metal in general could appreciate their music. As the band’s name itself raises curiosity, I have a feeling that Telekinetic Yeti are on their way to becoming one of the scene’s premiere acts in the near future. You should definitely give this album a listen and check out the music video for the song “Stoned And Feathered.”These guys definitely have their shit down and one listen gives you the feeling that these men are destined for greatness. Judging by their Facebook page, they seem to tour quite often. I hope to witness one of their live shows soon and I suggest you do the same if you get the chance. This is simply outstanding music.

“Abominable”is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook