French psychedelic and progressive rock explorers PELEGRIN announce the vinyl and CD reissue of their travel-inducing debut full-length “Al-Mahruqa” this May 9th through Californian label Ripple Music.
“A rich and deeply satisfying album that shows a band everyone needs to know about. This is psychedelic stoner rock of the highest order.” – Outlaws of the Sun
“The songs are huge pieces of work, forever shifting with moments of ethereal beauty, bitter angst, overwhelming cheer and undying optimism.” – Astral Noize
“What a debut! The only word that comes to mind to describe “Al-Mahruqa” is ideal, as it is undoubtedly an amazing album.” – Rockoverdose
When PELEGRIN roams the lands of stoner, prog and heavy psych, it is to make a few steps into the unknown. What drives François (guitar/vocals/production), Jason (bass) and Antoine (drums) is the will to fill a tiny space that seemed vacant in the ever-expanding galaxy of distorted music. Though they stand separated by a few hundred kilometers across France, the three friends are united by a confirmed taste for mesmerizing ambiance, melodies soaked with Middle-Eastern influences, rock-solid riffs, and most crucially, unsettling songs that are always on the move. One could try to bring up a few names such as Elder, OM and Colour Haze, but that would not quite cut it.
PELEGRIN charted this new path with its first album “Al-Mahruqa” (2019) and prolonged it with its successor “Ways of Avicenna” (2023). Recorded and produced by the band and mastered in Texas by Kent Stump (Wo Fat) at his Crystal Clear Studios, both albums received praise from international critics. In the fall of 2024, the band inked a worldwide deal with Californian independent label Ripple Music, joining their international roster alongside Yawning Man, The Obsessed, Hermano, Wo Fat and 1000Mods.
The band is set to reissue their first two studio albums this year, followed by the awaited release of their third studio full-length in 2026. They comment: “Six years after the initial self-release, ‘Al-Mahruqa’ still holds a special place in our hearts. It came after a long and sometimes winding creative process over 4 years, involving several line-up changes before we found our perfect balance as a power trio. This album was our first opportunity to be seen and heard by the underground scene. Fans and followers of Pelegrin have often shared their affection for this album, its narrative component and immersive soundscapes. If you’re about to (re)discover ‘Al-Mahruqa’, we bid you bon voyage! And beware the alluring dangers of the deep Sahara desert…”
After playing their first-ever series of shows and sharing the stages with Ufomammut, Witchorious or Deaf Radio in the fall of 2024, PELEGRIN will be hitting the road again this spring for a short Western run: “We’ll be celebrating the re-release with a handful of special shows, that will predominantly showcase songs from ‘Al-Mahruqa’. We’re excited to share the stage with US heavyweights Hippie Death Cult, our dear label mates The Necromancers, and some of the best emerging bands in the French heavy scene.”
Pelegrin spring shows 2025:
May 23 – Nantes @ Cold Crash w/ Hippie Death Cult + The Necromancers
June 12 – Montreuil @ Les Nouveaux Sauvages w/ MôT + Qilin
June 13 – Clisson @ Les Papas Brasseurs w/ Marteau + Les Hommes Crabes
July 4 – Le Mans @ Lezard Bar w/ Birds of Nazca
July 5 – Châteauroux @ La Cour des Miracles w/ Birds of Nazca
François Roze – guitar, vocals
Jason Recoing – bass
Antoine Ebel – drums, percussions
