Usually when a band releases a self-titled record in the middle of their career, it's to symbolize some sort of reinvention or return to form. For
Birds of Avalon
, however, it feels like a different story altogether. On their third, self-titled CD, it feels as if the album is here to signify the completion of the group's evolution from throwback rockers to psychedelic explorers, letting the world know that
are finally here, and they're ready to melt your mind. To that end, the band pulls out all the stops, marrying the bluesy bite of
Led Zeppelin
with the expansive stoner vibes of
Hawkwind
and tying a ribbon on the whole thing with a
Beatlesque
pop sensibility, blending the three styles together in a way that feels familiar without turning into hero worship. This combination of sounds lets songs like
"Xarardheere"
and
"Polysex Deathblog"
get far out and spacy, while the pop melodies and structure keep the songs from disappearing into their own headspace and leaving the listener behind. All of these changes help to further give
their own niche in the psych rock world, making them perfect for anyone looking for something less hazy than
Dead Meadow
, and less driving than
Wolfmother
or
the Sword
. ~ Gregory Heaney