Glasgow’s Helicon have been staples of the UK’s underground rock scene since they formed back in 2009 and from then they’ve gone on to release eight EPs, tour Europe several times and share the stage with everyone from the likes of Wooden Shjips, The Warlocks and Dead Skeletons. Picking up an ever-growing reputation along the way the band are now finally set to release their long-overdue self-titled debut LP on Fuzz Club on December 8^th.

Exploring themes of love and loss, drugs and drink, religion and politics, and life and death, Helicon’s new album is a collection of sprawling and expansive Eastern-sounding psych-rock. Rock’n’roll has always transcended geographical limits and with this in mind the band explain how the new record aims to explore all of psychedelia’s hazy, deeply-rooted ley-lines across the globe – from the cosmic noise of their Scottish homeland (see The Jesus & Mary Chain, Mogwai etc.) to the sitar-led, opium-tainted sounds of India and the neo-psychedelic swoons of 90s San Francisco.

Ethereal and mesmeric at times, crushingly heavy and droning at others – Helicon’s debut is a sublimely dynamic record that sounds like all the best parts of psych history rolled into one masterpiece of an album, eight years in the making this is a record that’s certain to propel Helicon’s already-formidable reputation to unprecedented heights.

Talking of the album, vocalist John-Paul explains: “As our sound and line-up evolved over the years I felt the time was now finally right to make the commitment to doing the album people had been asking us for and we owed to ourselves. The album itself is inspired by our desire to create impact, to push back against the fucking dirge of contemporary popular music and dumbing down of society. It’s the same reason we formed the band, there’s no point in complaining about shit if you aren’t prepared to offer up an alternative.”

The band was formed by brothers John-Paul (Guitar/vocals) and Gary Hughes (Guitar) and since then they’ve burned through two drummers, two bass players, two guitarists and a keys player – they confess, as a result of them both being either “incredibly dedicated and resilient or just a couple of insufferable c*nts”. In its current form, the band is also currently comprised of Mark McLure (Bass), Seb Jonsen (Drums) and Graham Gordon (Sitar and synths), each bringing a wealth of great experience to the table. Graham has previously toured with Asteroid #4 (playing the sitar) and both he and Seb are currently touring with Peter Daltrey’s legendary Kaleidoscope band as well as playing in numerous bands together in the past.