Ecstatic Vision has a new single, “Grasping the Void,” which is featured on their forthcoming album FOR THE MASSES, due out September 20 via Relapse Records. A chugging bass and bright flurries of flute coexist, creating a weighted, spacey sound. The commanding, tunneling tone of Doug Sabolik's vocals and the fuzz of guitar pulls you further into the vortex. It’s a heavy-psych excursion that you’ll definitely want to explore. Catch the Philly quartet at Underground Arts on Thursday, August 1, with Torche and Wear Your Wounds! (Photo by Gene Smirnov)

Sweaty, heart-pounding primal rhythms, compounded by raunchy riffs and roaring, raspy vocals, Ecstatic Vision taps into grimy grooves, and explores the smoky haze, creating a mystical setting. Tonight, Kung Fu Necktie will host a celebration of the band’s latest release Under the Influence, a collection of covers paying homage to their musical predecessors.  Released via Heavy Psych Sounds, a hot-on-your-heels heaviness develops a gut-checking sense of suspense, adhering as one races through the sticky, sonic forest. Reinforcing the rowdy, in-your-face, hard-rockin’ aesthetic, Narcos Family Band saturates in a unbridled stampede, welcoming all challengers. And Heavy Psych Sounds labelmates and fellow locals High Reeper will be kicking off the festivities. – Michael Colavita

Other places where you can rock this weekend…

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI The Bad Luck 13 Riot Extravaganza, Rubbish/Ecstatic Vision (Record Release), Narcos Family Band, High Reeper, SAT Control Top/Hotel Neon, Naps/Fame Lust, SUN God Root 

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N Frankford Ave.) FRI West Philadelphia Orchestra, SAT Live Band Karaoke with Pat Finnerty & The Full Band

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI FRI In The Presence Of Wolves, SUN L.M.I., Off Meds, Pithair

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SUN Secret Nudist Friends

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Street Stains

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SUN Summer Scorcher

The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) FRI The Wonder Years, Tigers Jaw, Worriers, SAT  The Wonder Years, Tigers Jaw, Worriers

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SUN Kississippi

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) This Way To The Egress, Jacopo & the Late Saints/Philly Bloco

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Luxe, Drowse,The Grip

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT Xs & Os, Supreem Da Rezarekta’, Pawnshop Roses, Chad Jenkins Band

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Palmlines, Thee Idea Men

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT The Shakedown, Mr. Falcon

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^ndSt.) FRI Package, Water Temple, Darla

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Astro 8000 & Dj Sylo

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Bazmati Vice, SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Church Girls, Fallible Being, The Chairman Dances, Bern & The Bastards, SAT Duffy's Cut, Legion 76, Mcguire’s Mob

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SUN Slainte

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) Sara Henya, CJ Dunleavy, Toria Daisy/ The Output, Midlife Crisis, SAT Andorra, The Good Mess, Karmalatta

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Unlimited Devotion: Tom Hamilton, John Kimock, SAT Unlimited Devotion: John Kimock, Splintered Sunlight

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Open City, Luxe , Greg Electric

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Sushi From The Future, SAT Lamplighters, Brandish/Douse, Canine 10, SUN Paul Harrold, Andrew Victor

First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) FRI Grayling

LAVA Space (4134 Lancaster Ave.) FRI Yarrow, Chronic Anxiety, Great Weights

The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI Roxy Rollz

JJ’s Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Henri Tyler, Pastel 2

The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Five Finger Posse, Andre Altrez

HH Ranch (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Molly Rhythm, Cage Flight, Blank Pill

The Waiting Room  (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Truck Stop Canyon, Big Big Bug

Ecstatic Vision pay tribute to their musical table-setters on the group's latest EP Under The Influence, which is now available via Heavy Psych Sounds. Enter into cosmic overdrive as this hypnotic brand of heavy takes command. Raunchy riffs and howling, demonic vocals blaze a trail that one will intuitively follow. The band will be holding its release celebration on Friday June 8 at Kung Fu Necktie, supported by Narcos Family Band and High Reeper.

While creativity and originality are often linked, music can also branch out from past roots. Once we dig into a band, tracing the elements that formed the foundation of its sound, it can give us clues into the musical mystery. Ecstatic Vision pay homage to their psych-rock forefathers with a collection of covers, titled Under The Influence, which is set for release on May 5 via Heavy Psych Sounds. The first sampling, a spin of “Troublemaker” by Chrissy Zebby Tembo & Ngozi Family, elevates the raw fury, so to speak, of the original, as the band provides its personal stamp.

We are here once again at The Deli Philly’s final post of the year. It’s been an honor getting a chance to share new music with all of you this past year (and nearly a decade), and I look forward to continuing to discover the best of Philly’s underground music community with you. And without any further ado, here is my “Best of” year-end list for my favorite Philly albums of 2017. I look forward to seeing you on the other side.

Much love – cheers!

Q.D. Tran

1. Raw Rock Fury (Relapse) – Ecstatic Vision

Ecstatic Vision weren’t joking when they decided to name their latest album, Raw Rock Fury. There are few, if not any Philly releases that can match the pure intensity and glorious shredding found on my favorite local release of 2017. And it also provides you a glimpse into the awesomeness of their live performances.

2. Rocket (Domino) – (Sandy) Alex G

With Rocket, Alex Giannascoli proves that all the adoration from the media for the young songwriter is certainly not unfounded. Using the guise of an Americana framework, he is able to craft wonderfully intimate campfire songs that make left turns at all the right places.

3. Veblen Death Mask (Kill Rock Stars) – Taiwan Housing Project

Veblen Death Mask is music without boundaries – so chaotically beautiful!

4. Need to Feel Your Love (Wilsuns RC) – Sheer Mag

All riffs and vocals – garage-punks Sheer Mag make their retro-fit sound oh so good. Rock ‘n’ roll is not dead.

5. Out in the Storm (Merge) – Waxahatchee

Waxahatchee’s earnest songwriting speaks right to the heart, and it’s hard to ignore.

6. My Idols Are Dead + My Enemies Are In Power (Self-released) – Lushlife

7. Messy (Self-released) – Curtis Cooper

8. Play “The Songs You Like” (Salinas) – Radiator Hospital

9. Oh, My Heart (Lame-O) – Shannen Moser

10. Soft Sound From Another Planet (Dead Oceans) – Japanese Breakfast

11. Movie Was Bad (Self-released) – Sixteen Jackies

12. Spirits (Creep) – Julia Rainer

13. Slacker Paint (Self-released) – The Mary Veils

14. Everything Is Always in the Past (@Self-released) – Blood Sound

15. A Deeper Understanding (Atlantic) – The War on Drugs

16. We Were Babies & We Were Dirtbags (Polyvinyl) – Quiet Slang

17. Tourist in This Town (Merge) – Allison Crutchfield

18. Why Love Now (Sub Pop) – Pissed Jeans

19. Shadow Expert (Carpark) – Palm

20. Let’s Be Nice – b-sides, covers & demos (Self-released) – Pill Friends

21. Birdie (Lame-O) – Slaughter Beach, Dog

22. Wilt (Self-released) – Line Leader

23. You’re So Smart (Self-released) – Joy Riding

24. Pleasure Suck (Tiny Engines) – The Spirit and The Beehive

25. Nothing Special (Honest Face) – Harmony Woods

26. Amuse-oreille, Vol. 1 (Self-released) – American Trappist

27. Grow (Self-released) – Them Jones

28. The Vernes (Self-released) – The Vernes

29. Cool and Fun – Madalean Gauze

30. White Reindeer – Lithuania

31. Tunnels (Self-released) – Vita and the Woolf

32. S/T (Self-released) – Teen Spaceship

33. Good Wind Pt. 1 (Human Kindness Overflowing) – Power Animal

34. Popular Manipulations (Fat Possum) – The Districts

35. Crime Waves – Moor Mother x Mental Jewelry

36. Jumpship (Lame-O) – No Thank You

37. Palisades (Egghunt) – Eric Slick

38. Dark Web (Suicide Bong Tapes) – Dark Web

39. Sadness is a Gesture (Inherent Sounds) – Aphra

40. Motel City Honey (Self-released) – Levee Drivers