High Visceral, Part 1 by Psychedelic Porn Crumpets

Review written by PhoePhoe

Now, I’ve always been a devoted fan of all types of rock. I grew up around it as my older siblings were partaking in their rebellious phases. It was no surprise that, at a young age, I would soon take great interest in the music genre that I was surrounded by. When I was first introduced to it, it was nothing more than noise to keep me pumped. I had never taken the time to fully appreciate rock and never thought there would be a moment where I would. One day, on a random day at the school bus, that all changed.

I believe it was around 2020. I remember it all very clearly. Ny mental health took a toll due to the pandemic, my creativity wasn’t present in any of my works no matter how hard I tried, and I just generally did not feel like I was in a good spot. What was supposed to be two weeks of no school soon turned into a disastrous couple of years of feeling lost and isolated from everybody. I did listen to music in hopes that it would light that spark in me that I had lost, but I never seemed to be able to connect with any of it. On occasion I’d use smart shuffle on Spotify, thinking maybe I’d come across just the right music. Music was absolutely beneficial to me when it came to my passion projects; it was the one thing that truly kept me moving forward. It helped me create. Without it, there was no passion. Then, I found a band while looking through my recommendations. I listened to Psychedelic Porn Crumpets’ album High Visceral, Part 1. How I wish I could go back to the day I first listened to the album.

I had seen a faint light in the darkness, which was strange. At only the first song, why am I already feeling such an understanding presence? It makes me feel as if I’d better brace myself for a world full of wonder and magic. It’s by far the most intriguing introduction of any album I’ve ever come across, almost like the band is giving me a sneak peak of what’s to come and to get real excited for the ride of my life. I knew right then and there that this wasn’t going to be a typical rock band that I’d soon grow tired of. There was something about this first impression of the band that had me wanting more, like a good itch that needs to be scratched again, not going away until I’ve satisfied myself. I put on my headphones for the best experience as I looked out the window of the school bus, feeling those sparks return when I skipped to the next song. Once I closed my tired eyes and listened, my surroundings got quieter, the tunes beginning to get louder. Suddenly I was pulled into an entirely different universe, surrounded by nothing but a variety of warm colors that brushed against my floating body. It was cold, but the colors going over me brought warmth, spinning as they grew more intense the more the sounds of the drums and guitars collided together. I’m left with nothing but to dive into this chaotic, yet exciting, adventure! Running on pure adrenaline and feeling the intense guitar strings flow throughout my veins and eventually taking the biggest jump in the air as the beats carry me away. When the music stops, I feel a dizziness from the many spins, only to get pulled back up to my feet, standing there in my deep thoughts as I let them roam crazy in my brain. At one point the world starts to get slower the more I continue on with this endless adventure. The shrieks of the guitar, yelling at me to never stop, in an instant come to a close. A moment of silence happens again, this time longer. While taking in this experience with deep breaths, the gentle violin flies past me. The entirety of the album is so full of crazy roars, though there are moments of gentleness and comfort. It’s eye opening.

This album made me understand what my true intentions were with my artistic and writing skills. I felt so stuck at the time, struggling to understand what I really wanted to do with what I then considered only a hobby. I might have been okay with that, but that would have disregarded the many stories and drawings I made up until then. I had the capability, but it died out too soon. You can only imagine how unfit I felt, having this mindset when I was attending a prestigious art high school. I knew everybody’s goals were different, but it didn’t change the fact that I was falling behind. I thought that maybe if I just continued to do my soulless work I’d get over it, but the lack of satisfaction afterwards hurt. When I listened to this band, I was complete. I had passion again, and created so much work to make up for those few years I had lost. Every one of these songs gave me a story. I had always liked making up stories in my head from the music alone, and it was nice to be back again. Better than ever, even.

As the years passed by, I held this band close to my heart. Now in my junior year of college, I still consider myself a loyal listener. I like to think of them as a reminder of what I’m more than capable of doing, to never settle for less, to keep reaching for more. The music gave me that extra push that I needed. I continue to support the band. I encourage my friends to listen to them whenever they’re looking for recommendations, I listen to them during my free time, and I keep myself up to date with their Instagram. But the emotions within each composition remain strong and loud. My admiration I have for this band is something I’m unable to put into words, but I can say, without a doubt, that High Visceral, Part 1 touched my soul like no other album. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets that lit the match for me again.