After two critically acclaimed LPs that earned them comparisons with Elder, King Buffalo and Slift, French heavy psych explorers Pelegrin are back with their best and most ambitious work to date. Their signature sound – built around rich melodies, nuanced dynamics, and a dash of Arabian spices – has taken some steps towards a catchier and heavier direction. Razor-sharp riffs and powerful hooks are to be expected, amid the trio’s  trademark backdrop of proggy, ambient songwriting.

“This video as well as the entire album depict 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,” says Pelegrin.

The album’s 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 soundtrack to the chaotic era we live in. The Curse of Nephtar album comes with a dedicated mini-website featuring visuals, lyrics, storyline elements and the real-world facts that inspired it. “We wished to provide an opportunity for listeners to engage with the album concept on a deeper level. All members of Pelegrin are sensitive to ecological issues – and for some of us, it actually takes a large part in our lives outside of music. These two spheres existed separately for years: the militant sphere, and the creative sphere. Now, for the first time, they have collided,” they state.

Stream the latest singles Eons and In the Company of Stars!