Pelegrin returns with his most ambitious work yet, The Curse of Nephtar!

After two LPs that earned them comparisons with Elder, King Buffalo and Slift, French heavy psych rock explorers Pelegrin are back with their most ambitious work to date: The Curse of Nephtar. Their signature sound built around lush melodies, nuanced dynamics and a dash of Arabian spices, has taken steps towards a catchier and heavier direction. Razor-sharp riffs and powerful hooks are to be expected amid their backdrop of proggy Eastern ambiences. The enthralling narrative arc creates a powerful allegory of the tragic influence of fossil fuel exploitation on modern-day events in the Middle East and beyond, making the album a fitting yet otherworldly soundtrack to the chaotic era we live in.

The Curse of Nephtar will be issued on September 4th through Ripple Music (LP/CD/digital).

Located between Nantes and Paris, French heavy psychedelic trio Pelegrin has been earning a solid reputation as a hidden gem of the heavy rock underground. After self-releasing their first two albums Al-Mahruqa (2019) and Ways of Avicenna (2023) to great critical acclaim, they caught the eye of leading Californian label Ripple Music (Hermano, 1000Mods, Wo Fat, The Obsessed…). Largely a studio project for their first years, Pelegrin are now emerging as a powerful live act that has shared stages with the likes of Naxatras, Ufomammut, Hippie Death Cult, Deaf Radio.

Their upcoming third album The Curse of Nephtar is bound to delight old fans and win over new ones. "The album depicts the tale of Nephtar, a powerful black orb that comes to life in the depths of prehistoric ocean Tethys, which used to stand above the current Middle East. Ignored for eons, it eventually uses its manipulative powers to join the surface and subdue all living things. While for a brief moment, it is hoped that using Nephtar will create an era of plenty for all, humans come to realize that the price to pay is exceedingly heavy and start fighting to break the curse," the band explains.

With The Curse of Nephtar, Pelegrin has created a powerful allegory of fossil fuels and their tragic influence on modern-day events, in the Middle East and beyond. The album draws inspiration from the ‘resource curse’ theory, which observes that oil-rich nations are paradoxically less peaceful, developed, and democratic than comparable countries with no such resources. Told through sound design, spoken word and incisive lyrics, the Nephtar story provides a perfect soundtrack for the chaotic times we live in.

The album was recorded by Arthur Lauth at Brown Bear Recording, mixed by François Roze at Majortone, and mastered by Kent Stump at Crystal Clear Sound. Album artwork was designed by Jo Riou.

Stream / Buy / Download the album on Bandcamp

Pelegrin is
François Roze - guitar, vocals
Jason Recoing - studio bass 
Nacim Virieux - live bass
Antoine Ebel - drums, percussions
 
Pelegrin links
Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram

Ripple Music links
Website⎪Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram

Thank you very much Purple Sage PR

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