Obskuria is a very large neo-psychedelic group from Germany, and this is their second album.  It's a very good mix of retro-late 60s/early 70s psychedelia, acid and doom-metal with a futuristic Hawkwind feel.

This record reminds me very much of the time I spent in Toledo, Ohio.  Toledo, for me, was as if I was dropped off a time machine set to the 60s, with it's lack of chain stores or anything that's identifiably commercial in that turn-of-the-century way.  Harking back to a time when music and movies really meant something (as that older person at work would often tell me, of course...)

There's plenty of 60s heaviness to go around here, "Somewhere" in particular reminds me of early Vanilla Fudge.  There's also, believe it or not, a Slayer cover done in a classic 70s Black Sabbath style -- about the only time they detract from their formula.  And Muriel Stadelmann is one really great vocalist, very much like a better version of Grace Slick with actual range and dynamics.

And best of all, many of the songs are loaded with social commentary that does seem to be missing with a lot of alternative rock these days.  The epic 12-minute title track in particular describes the United States as being devoured by its own greedy indulgence and hubris, which is quite spot on.

So as I'm somebody who doesn't usually go for retrogressive rock, I have to say Burning Sea of Green is one impressive album.  This music is much too deep and imaginatively done to be dismissed as mere nostalgic fodder