Moundrag, the fraternal duo of Goellaen brothers, are back with ‘Morning Epitaph,’ a potent taster from their upcoming album, ‘Deux’ (October 17, via Spinda and Stolen Body Records).

The track opens with a ceremonial organ, evoking a mist-shrouded, almost spectral atmosphere before Colin’s drums erupt with an inexorable force. It’s a sound that suggests both a solemn medieval lament and a guttural, ancient Celtic cry echoing through a cosmic void.

You can definitely hear the classic rock DNA in their sound – Deep Purple, King Crimson, Uriah Heep are all in the mix, tracing back to that golden era of ’70s progressive and hard rock. But they’re not just rehashing the past; there’s a clear connection to more recent heavy hitters like Motorpsycho and Hällas. ‘Morning Epitaph’ is this really cool contradiction: it’s a somber lament and a defiant battle cry all at once, wrapped in velvet but burning bright. This track is a powerful preview, and we’re definitely hyped to hear what else ‘Deux’ has in store.

Written over a two-year stretch between 2022 and 2024, ‘Deux’ unfolds across nine tightly constructed tracks, each one carving out its own weird little ecosystem while still flowing like chapters in a single hallucinogenic novel. Psychedelic, moments of eerie calm… There’s a tension between force and finesse here, and Moundrag walk that line like they’ve lived in both worlds for years. The following video was directed by Maureen Piercy.