The Black Angels HHV Records 6 Items

"The best music reflects a wide-screen view of the world back at us, helping distill the universal into something far more personal. Since forming in Austin in 2004, The Black Angels have become standard-bearers for modern psych-rock that does exactly that, which is one of many reasons why the group’s new album, Wilderness of Mirrors, feels so aptly named. In the five years since the band’s prior album, Death Song, and the two-plus years spent working on Wilderness of Mirrors, pandemics, political tumult and the ongoing devastation of the environment have provided ample fodder for the Black Angels’ signature sonic approach.

Wilderness of Mirrors expertly refines the Black Angels’ psychedelic rock attack alongside a host of intriguing sounds and textures. There are classic blasts of fuzzed-out guitars meant to simultaneously perk up the ears and jumpstart the mind, alongside melancholy, acoustic guitar-driven newfound experiments. Mellotron, strings, and other keyboards also play a more prominent role on Wilderness of Mirrors than ever before.

Even amidst these new experimentations, The Black Angels remain masterfully true to psych-rock forebears such as Syd Barrett, Roky Erickson, Arthur Lee and the members of the Velvet Underground, all of whom are namechecked on album highlight “The River.” “The Velvet Underground song ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’ – that’s what every Black Angels album has been about,” says vocalist/bassist Alex Maas. “You can’t work out your struggles unless you bring them to the forefront and think about them. If we can all think about them, maybe we can help save ourselves.”"

"The Black Angels bring the aura of mid-1966 the drilling guitars of early Velvet Underground shows, the raga inflections of late-show Fillmore jams, the acid-prayer stomp of Austin avatars the 13th Floor Elevators everywhere they go, including the levitations on their second album, Directions to See a Ghost (Light In The Attic). Mid-Eighties echoes of Spacemen 3 and the Jesus and Mary Chain also roll through the scoured-guitar sustain and Alex Maas' rocker-monk incantations. But he knows what time it is. 'You say the Beatles stopped the war," Maas sings in 'Never/Ever.' 'They might've helped to find a cure/But it's still not over.' Even so, this medicine works wonders." - David Fricke, Rolling Stone

The Black Angels' classic sophomore album
Pressed at RTI
Triple LP housed in a Stoughton tri-fold gatefold jacket
Originally released on April 15th, 2008
Special Triple LP Color Edition includes:
Record 1 (a/b) Pressed on Opaque Red Marble Wax
Record 2 (c/d) Pressed on Opaque Green Marble Wax
Record 3 (e/f) Pressed on Clear Wax

_'The Black Angels bring the aura of mid-1966 the drilling guitars of early Velvet Underground shows, the raga inflections of late-show Fillmore jams, the acid-prayer stomp of Austin avatars the 13th Floor Elevators everywhere they go, including the levitations on their second album, Directions to See a Ghost. Mid-Eighties echoes of Spacemen 3 and the Jesus and Mary Chain also roll through the scoured-guitar sustain and Alex Maas' rocker-monk incantations. But he knows what time it is. 'You say the Beatles stopped the war,' Maas sings in 'Never/Ever.' 'They might've helped to find a cure/But it's still not over.' Even so, this medicine works wonders.' - *David Fricke, Rolling Stone*_

Last time we met The Black Angels, they were staring into the desert sun somewhere outside of Austin, Texas. Two years later, night has fallen and the spirits have come out. It's time for The Black Angels to provide _Directions On How To See A Ghost_.

If you're familiar with _Passover_, the band's 2006 debut, you'll know that The Black Angels's music alone is enough to invoke spirits. There's a name for the band's sound; they call it 'hypno-drone 'n roll'. It's the sound of long nights on peyote, of dreams of a new world order, and of half-invented memories of the seamy side of '60s psychedelia.

While the Iraq war is still a major influence on the band's lyrics, there are new forces at work here, including Eugene Zamyatin's dystopian novel We and in Christian Bland's words 'psychic information from the past and future.' See, The Black Angels really are in contact with ghosts.

'Civil War battlefields are prime spots for seeing ghosts,' says Bland. 'One time at Kennesaw mountain in Georgia, I was climbing the mountain in the middle of June and it must have been close to 100 degrees, but in this one particular spot it was very cold. The hairs on my neck stood up and I knew something strange was happening. Then the wind whispered something like 'retreat,' and I did. I later learned that the spot where I was on the battlefield was known as 'the dead angle', the place where the fiercest fighting took place. The confederates ended up retreating from the mountain towards Peachtree Creek.'

The Black Angels formed in Austin, Texas, in 2004, comprising from six people (now five) from very different backgrounds. Singer/vocalist Christian Bland is the son of a Presbyterian Pastor and was raised in a devoutly religious household. Bassist / guitarist Nate Ryan was born on a cult compound and drummer Stephanie Bailey claims she's a descendent of Davy Crocket. She and Alex Maas (vocals/guitar) believe a little girl in a red linen dress haunts the group's home.

The band released _Passover_ in 2006 to critical acclaim for both the album and the song 'The First Vietnamese War'. Most of all, _Passover_ established The Black Angels as a band with brains, balls and a strong message. And this time around, the message is there to read in a 16-page booklet that comes with the album.

'Our central theme is that people need to open up their minds and let everything come through, and to learn from past mistakes,' says Christian. 'Only then will we understand the reality of this world and progress beyond where we are now as humans. We've built upon that theme with _Directions to See a Ghost_. We want people to study the booklet we are providing with the album in hopes that they will be able to relate each song to something in their life.'

_'War is Peace.

Freedom is Slavery.

Ignorance is Strength.

Keep Music Evil.'_

The band's debut masterpiece originally released in 2006 * Vinyl pressed at RTI * Double LP housed in a gatefold jacket* Pressed on Clear Black Swirl vinyl//10-songs deep, Passover has come again. Reflecting and questioning the intergenerational psychosis of American social life that surrounds us, The Black Angels put forth their answers in song. It's a "Call To Arms" for those ready to join the good fight, a rock ' roll salvation during the times we need it the most. As Maas bellows on "Young Man Dead," "Fire for the hills, pick up speed, and let's go."

The Black Angels' classic sophomore album
Pressed at RTI
Triple LP housed in a Stoughton tri-fold gatefold jacket
Originally released on April 15th, 2008

_'The Black Angels bring the aura of mid-1966 the drilling guitars of early Velvet Underground shows, the raga inflections of late-show Fillmore jams, the acid-prayer stomp of Austin avatars the 13th Floor Elevators everywhere they go, including the levitations on their second album, Directions to See a Ghost. Mid-Eighties echoes of Spacemen 3 and the Jesus and Mary Chain also roll through the scoured-guitar sustain and Alex Maas' rocker-monk incantations. But he knows what time it is. 'You say the Beatles stopped the war,' Maas sings in 'Never/Ever.' 'They might've helped to find a cure/But it's still not over.' Even so, this medicine works wonders.' - *David Fricke, Rolling Stone*_

Last time we met The Black Angels, they were staring into the desert sun somewhere outside of Austin, Texas. Two years later, night has fallen and the spirits have come out. It's time for The Black Angels to provide _Directions On How To See A Ghost_.

If you're familiar with _Passover_, the band's 2006 debut, you'll know that The Black Angels's music alone is enough to invoke spirits. There's a name for the band's sound; they call it 'hypno-drone 'n roll'. It's the sound of long nights on peyote, of dreams of a new world order, and of half-invented memories of the seamy side of '60s psychedelia.

While the Iraq war is still a major influence on the band's lyrics, there are new forces at work here, including Eugene Zamyatin's dystopian novel We and in Christian Bland's words 'psychic information from the past and future.' See, The Black Angels really are in contact with ghosts.

'Civil War battlefields are prime spots for seeing ghosts,' says Bland. 'One time at Kennesaw mountain in Georgia, I was climbing the mountain in the middle of June and it must have been close to 100 degrees, but in this one particular spot it was very cold. The hairs on my neck stood up and I knew something strange was happening. Then the wind whispered something like 'retreat,' and I did. I later learned that the spot where I was on the battlefield was known as 'the dead angle', the place where the fiercest fighting took place. The confederates ended up retreating from the mountain towards Peachtree Creek.'

The Black Angels formed in Austin, Texas, in 2004, comprising from six people (now five) from very different backgrounds. Singer/vocalist Christian Bland is the son of a Presbyterian Pastor and was raised in a devoutly religious household. Bassist / guitarist Nate Ryan was born on a cult compound and drummer Stephanie Bailey claims she's a descendent of Davy Crocket. She and Alex Maas (vocals/guitar) believe a little girl in a red linen dress haunts the group's home.

The band released _Passover_ in 2006 to critical acclaim for both the album and the song 'The First Vietnamese War'. Most of all, _Passover_ established The Black Angels as a band with brains, balls and a strong message. And this time around, the message is there to read in a 16-page booklet that comes with the album.

'Our central theme is that people need to open up their minds and let everything come through, and to learn from past mistakes,' says Christian. 'Only then will we understand the reality of this world and progress beyond where we are now as humans. We've built upon that theme with _Directions to See a Ghost_. We want people to study the booklet we are providing with the album in hopes that they will be able to relate each song to something in their life.'

_'War is Peace.

Freedom is Slavery.

Ignorance is Strength.

Keep Music Evil.'_

Quantity: 2000
Release type: 'RSD First' Release

In celebration of the40th anniversary of Under A Blood Red Sky(1983), the2023 Record Store Day Black Fridaysees the newly remastered release of the band's iconic live album onlimited edition red vinyl. Consisting of live recordings from three shows on the band'sWar Tour in 1983, the album helped to cement U2's reputation globally as one of the greatest live acts of all time. Featuring legendary live versions of 'Gloria', 'I Will Follow', and 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', the album remains faithful to the original track list, but is newly remastered at the renowned studioBernie Grundman Mastering.