Nebula Albums (6)
What The Critics Say
Although they have never broken out beyond the rock underground, Nebula became somewhat favorites of the U.K.'s famed Peel Sessions radio show, having performed two live-in-the-studio sets between 2002 and 2004 (as well as an additional Radio 1 Rock Show appearance). And wouldn't you know it, all three have been documented several years later, in the form of 2008's Peel Sessions. Nebula have always been one of stoner rock's most loud and proud bands, but while many groups of the genre seem content jamming the night away through a thick fog of pot fumes, these lads do attempt to pen songs that have honest to goodness melodies and some sort of song structure, cases in point being such standouts as "Carpe Diem" and "Ways to Venus." But that said, like most stoner rockers, Nebula are also prone to veering off into jam territory from time to time, as evidenced here by a nearly ten-minute rendition of "Strange Human." ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
'Heavy Psych'
Release Date 1/1/2008
Tracks 8
Label Salt of the Earth/Volcanic Pineap
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Former Fu Manchu guitarist Eddie Glass formed Nebula in 1997, releasing the band's first EP, Let It Burn, on tiny Tee Pee Records. Over a decade later, after time served on Sub Pop and Liquor and Poker, Glass and a new bassist and drummer are back on Tee Pee with an album that could have been recorded the day after the Let It Burn sessions. His stinging guitar leads (and gift for artful bursts of noise -- check out the speaker-frying intro to "Aphrodite"), the occasional trips into space via pedals and keyboard accents, and the slow and steady drumming are all in place just as they've always been. There are some surprises, like the two-minute instrumental "Dream Submarine," which pairs bouzouki-like guitars with thunderous timpani bashing. The album's longest track, "The Other Side," is also one of its most melodic, and lives up to the album's title quite well, as it's trippy and somewhat soothing as its fuzzy main riff works its way into your brain. Put simply, if you like any of Nebula's earlier work, not to mention the 1990s work of Monster Magnet, Brant Bjork, or Fu Manchu, you'll like this album just fine. ~ Phil Freeman, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
With Kyuss now long gone, Monster Magnet traveling distant galaxies, and Fu Manchu driving their graffiti-decorated vans over groove-rock desert highways somewhere in the distance, are Nebula the last of the prototypical stoner rock Mohicans? Strictly speaking, no, since they themselves were relative late arrivals to the scene, having sprung fully formed from the bowels of the aforementioned Fu Manchu in 1997 -- but in terms of the mostly unadulterated '90s-style stoner rock (psychedelic and space rock-infused, sure, but ultimately grounded in '60s garage and '70s hard rock) heard on their fifth full album, Apollo, quite possibly. Despite what trends would tell you, said '90s movement is alive and well in staple Nebula numbers like "Loose Cannon," "The Alchemist," "The Eagle Has Landed," and "Decadent Garden" -- all of them boasting catchy, crunchy riffs from main man Eddie Glass, Bonham-esque percussion from ever-faithful drummer Ruben Romano, and solid if inconspicuous support from new bassist Tom Davies. Laid-back numbers -- half-psych, half-blues -- like "Future Days" and "Wired" provide mellow detours for nice, diversifying effect, but it's ultimately naturally self-combustible concoctions like "Lightbringer," "Ghost Ride," and "Trapezium Procession" that stand out of the pack -- along with turbocharged, post-Detroit garage rock fare like "Ghost Ride" and the brilliant, Saints-reminiscent "Fever Frey." The latter, in particular, also serves to remind listeners of Glass' always impressive six-string chops (see also the slash-and-burn bookends "Orbit" and "Opiate Float") -- arguably second only to Monster Magnet's Ed Mundell in terms of innate, guitar hero-type inspiration within their generation. And as long as he's in the driver's seat, Nebula will likely be out there, flying the stoner rock flag -- more power to them if the records keep coming out this well. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The cover art for Atomic Ritual suggests Nebula's quest for the melding of inner and outer space -- or something equally hazy and vaguely profound conjured up amidst all the bong resin and empty, crumpled Cheetos bags. Of course, Nebula treads heavily within the realm of stoner rock -- in other words (and setting aside any ridiculous categorizations), this hard-working power trio sounds like it has been hanging out in the garage since 1973, blissfully unaware of the changing world outside. Which is definitely to its benefit because this, the band's third full-length, boasts consistently entertaining songwriting and the production hand of desert-rock hero Chris Goss, who captures Nebula's sound while simultaneously enhancing it. He carefully and brilliantly melds warm, '70s fuzz tones with the grit and fury necessitated by gifted guitarist Eddie Glass' raucous, overdriven Stooges riffs. Hence the up-tempo thunder-and-rumble of "So It Goes"; the garage punk freakouts of "More" and the title track; the wavering space echo of "The Beast" and "Strange Human"; the flanged acoustic guitar and lazy Mellotron warbles of "Paradise Engineer"; and the hook-ridden, coulda-been-AM-radio-hits "The Way to Venus" and "Carpe Diem." Notably, there's very little filler and plenty of hooks to be found on Atomic Ritual, and the group manages to somehow work its meandering sonic indulgences -- hyperactive drumming, phaser-pedal whooshes and swooshes, guitar solos -- into arrangements that never top the five-minute mark. Sure, Nebula wears its myriad of influences on its dusty, tattered sleeve -- early Monster Magnet, Mudhoney, the MC5, Black Sabbath, Hawkwind, Blue Cheer -- but bottom line, Atomic Ritual is a thoroughly enjoyable listen and a surprisingly focused piece of work considering the band's penchant for psychotropic space rock. ~ John Serba, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Nebula's second true full-length album, Charged begins to reign in the previous extended jams somewhat, improving the consistency of the band's songwriting. Nebula's fusion of Blue Cheer and Mudhoney is very much intact, and Eddie Glass' limited vocal range still resembles a stoned, mellowed-out Mark Arm -- all of which means that Nebula hasn't exactly evolved into the hookiest band on the planet. But the sheer power of Nebula's riffs has never been quite as focused as it is on Charged and, what's more, the band's arrangements continue to grow more detailed, incorporating layers of acoustic guitars and trippy background effects on some tracks. So, even if Charged isn't a huge leap forward, it still represents a progression that helps explain why Nebula continues to move toward the front of the stoner rock pack. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Nebula's first non-EP, full-length release, To the Center is another retro-psychedelic heavy rock platter, long on stripped-down riff muscle and surprisingly technically adept guitar jams. The results sometimes meander, which probably isn't of much consequence if this brand of metal is your bag, since this is what you'd expect in this perception-expanding context. What matters more than tightly structured songs are riffs and atmosphere, and both of those are present in abundance. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
