Release Date July 31st, 2026
Format Vinyl/Digital
Genre Psychedelic/Stoner Rock
Origin USA
Dead Meadow formed in Washington, D.C. in 1998, built around guitarist and vocalist Jason Simon, bassist Steve Kille and drummer Mark Laughlin. Their music grew from the meeting point of early ’70s hard rock, psychedelic rock and stoner influences, with Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath among the major names behind their sound. Across studio albums, live releases and extensive touring, Dead Meadow developed a hazy, guitar-led approach built around fuzz, hypnotic rhythms and Simon’s melodic vocals.
Releases such as “Howls From The Hills”, “Shivering King And Others”, “Feathers”, “Old Growth”, “Warble Womb” and “The Nothing They Need” established the band as an important name in modern heavy psych. Steve Kille’s death in April 2024 marked a painful loss for the band, making “Foundlings” particularly significant, since much of the material features his final recorded work with Dead Meadow.
“Foundlings” gathers recordings made between 2002 and 2024, combining previously unreleased originals with three covers from The Powell St. John, The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. The record moves through heavy psychedelic rock, hazy guitar textures, spacious grooves and softer melodic sections, with Jason Simon’s vocals sitting deep inside the arrangements. “Kingdom Of Heaven”, “Tomorrow Never Knows” and “No Quarter” receive treatments that remain recognisable while passing through the band’s psychedelic filter.
The production comes from several different sessions and locations, including Ultrasound Studios, The Wiggle Room, Tekeli Li Sound and sessions connected with Anton Newcombe and Rob Campanella, so the sound naturally shifts from one recording period to another. Howie Weinberg handled the mastering, with additional mastering by Claudio Gruer. The collection has the atmosphere of an archive release, and its long recording span gives it a varied sonic character.
It is most effective when the guitars and bass settle into those hypnotic patterns Dead Meadow has built their reputation around, with the vocals adding a distant, almost dreamlike quality. “Foundlings” is an interesting document of the band’s history, especially because Steve Kille’s bass playing remains present throughout much of the material. The result is a psychedelic rock release with enough variation to hold attention while remaining firmly connected to Dead Meadow’s established sound.
|7.5
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