Inspired by a quote from scientist Carl Sagan, Bring On The Psychics finds Quicksand guitarist and vocalist Walter Schreifels examining his past through the reality of the present.
It is the New York band’s first album in five years, but there is no sense of anybody needing to rediscover what made Quicksand special. Schreifels, bassist Sergio Vega and drummer Alan Cage are a settled trio, and this is the work of a stable band that knows exactly what it is doing without simply repeating itself.
“Get To It” makes that clear immediately. Quicksand sort of invented this stuff, let’s not forget, and the opening track carries the confidence of musicians who know that countless bands have followed the path they helped clear. The guitars churn, the rhythm section pushes forward and Schreifels sounds as urgent as ever.
Yet Quicksand have always understood accessibility too. “Regenerate” sounds enormous, but beneath all that weight is a song designed to lodge itself in your head. Then, almost without warning, it explodes into something fit for a mosh pit as Schreifels screams “pride and humility.” Those two ideas might sit uneasily together, but Quicksand have spent their career making contradictions sound perfectly natural.
The slower “Agency” possesses a genuinely menacing air. It does not need to sprint towards you when it can simply stand there and make you uncomfortable. That tension continues into “Crystallize,” where Schreifels’ angular guitar playing becomes even more integral to the sound. The riffs never take the obvious route, but they always arrive exactly where they need to.
“Supercollider” has a crunch that Prong would be pleased with. That alone would be enough for plenty of bands, but there is far more happening here. The melody underneath the abrasion is crucial, giving the song another dimension and preventing Bring On The Psychics from becoming merely an exercise in heaviness.
“In Full Color” might suggest something bright, but it sounds as though it has the weight of the world on its shoulders. Quicksand have always reflected their surroundings, and this is music made by people who understand that the world does not become easier simply because you have grown older. Experience might offer perspective, but it does not necessarily provide answers.
The acoustic guitars emerge on “Days You Run To,” giving it a distinctly late-1990s feel. It stretches beyond five minutes, comfortably the longest track here, but it earns every second. Rather than interrupting the flow, it broadens the album and provides the sort of change in texture that makes what follows hit even harder.
What follows is “Cool Guy,” and hit harder it certainly does. Therapy? fans should get here quickly. It is short, sharp and wired with the sort of nervous energy that suggests Quicksand could still level a room whenever the mood takes them.
“Moving Forward” asks, “How many chances can you take?” That seems like the appropriate slogan for the entire record. The answer, judging by these ten songs, is loads. Quicksand take plenty during this half-hour, whether altering the pace, allowing melody to soften the impact or dragging their familiar sound somewhere less comfortable.
The title track ties up the loose ends without offering easy resolution. Its final line — “you spend your lifetime running away” — leaves the record hanging somewhere between reflection and warning.
That is not the Quicksand way, though.
You can sink, or you can fight. Guess what this is doing.
You don’t need a psychic for that.
Rating: 8/10
