Norway’s riff monster returns with its fourth full length album, released February 21st 2020 by Fresh Tea.
“Astro Tongue in the Electric Garden” is a record full of psychedelic vibes and vintage progressive heavy rock. This new record showcases a wide musical pallet ranging from down tuned doom riffs to bombastic mellotron swirls and epic Maidenesque guitar melodies.
Hex A.D. has built a strong reputation these past years as one of Norway’s finest ambassadors for the classic heavy rock we know and love from bands such as Uriah Heep and Rainbow. 2018’s “Netherworld Triumphant” saw the band dive deep into the golden darkness of the early 1980s, and gave the band a storm of great reviews from all over the world.
Here they are again with the brand new album “Astro Tongue in the Electric Garden”!
Where “Netherworld Triumphant” was dark, majestic and mysterious, “Astro Tongue in the Electric Garden” is slightly more progressive, upbeat and varied.
On “Astro Tongue in the Electric Garden” the band has let their different musical inspirations flow, and there is a stronger sense of melody on this record compared to the three previous ones. The over-all feel is slightly psychedelic and has a taste of the late 1960s scene in London where bands such as Pink Floyd, Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience changed the world of popular music for ever. The bluesy riffs in “Hawks & Doves”, the vintage guitar sounds and the epic organ and mellotron runs leave no doubt that Hex A.D. tips the hat off to the aforementioned greats on this album.
After the death of long-time producer Chris Tsangarides, production duties have been handled by Rick Hagan, who started Hex A.D. together with Chris back in 2011.
There are several guests appearing on “Astro Tongue in the Electric Garden”.
The legendary hard rock singer Eirikur Hauksson known for his outstanding work with Norwegian metal band Artch and Uriah Heep-legend Ken Hensley brought one of the record’s centre pieces “Hawks & Doves” to new hights with his bluesy efforts.
Former Paul DiAnno and current Audrey Horne axe slinger Thomas Tofthagen has brought his outstanding skills to the heavy blues track “Hawks & Doves”.
Former Dio guitarist, and close partner of the band, Rowan Robertson has contributed with all the guitar parts to the bonus track “Grace & Pain”, and delivers another one of his fantastic performances.
Lyrically “Astro Tongue in the Electric Garden” deals with drug abuse, psychedelia, Science Fiction and the Vietnam War. All themes that hail back to the late 1960s.
Turn on, tune in, drop out!
TRACKLIST:
1. Elle est mort
2. Deadly Nightshade
3. Astro Tongue
4. The Day the Sky Exploded
5. Au revoir jardin électrique
– The Monsoon Suite –
6. Hawks & Doves
7. Old Bones
8. A Stone for the Bodies not found
BONUS TRACK CD & DIGITAL ONLY
9. Grace and Pain
Pre-order your copy from Katakomben record store or directly from the label Fresh Tea.
ONLINE
LINEUP
Rick Hagan - Vocals, guitars
Mags Johansen - Organ, mellotron, synts, piano
Arry Gogstad - Bass guitar
Matt Hagan - Drums
{tab=title="BIOGRAPHY" class="orange"}
Hex A.D.'s music is doomy and heavy, based on heavy guitar riffs. But their music also clearly shows the members' progressive preferences. The band's classic rock sound reminds a bit of the 1970s, without being retro.
Frontman Rick Hagan composes both lyrics and melodies, and he takes the main responsibility in the studio where he plays all instruments besides keys. Organ and mellotron are handled by maestro Magnus Johansen, both live and in studio. Since 2011, the band has been working closely with producer Chris Tsangarides who has done his magic with the band's albums.
On stage the band emphasizes spontaneity and improvisation, and this is where the magic really happens. For a number of years, Magnus has been working closely with Jon Lord from Deep Purple, and if there is one person who really knows what it means to play on the edge, it must be him. This love for the spontaneous and intense is also shared by the band's rhythm section; bassist 'Arry Gogstad and drummer Matt Hagan prefer it loud, dangerous and alive.
Several of the band members have for a number of years been touring in Europe and Asia with artists like Blaze Bayley, Paul Di'Anno, Geoff Nicholls, Bernie Marsden, Ripper Owens and Rowan Robertson, known for his time in Dio. Robertson has on several occasions been a guest with Hex A.D. on stage. Not only is he contributing to the band's latest album, Netherworld Triumphant, he will also be seen on future concerts.
DISCOGRAPHY
Even the Savage Will See Fair Play - 2014
The Last Nail in the Coffin Lid - 2016
Netherworld Triumphant - 2018
Astro Tongue in the Electric Garden - 2020