Noah - Brain Suck (1967-72) (Expanded Edition, 2021)

Fabulous US hard-psychedelic album by Noah, recorded in 1972 but never released at the time. Expanded to include the Sound Barrier (pre-Noah) sought after garage-psych 45s plus unreleased demos, '67-71. Formed in the late 60s in Salem, Ohio, out of the ashes of two garage bands, the Markees and the Sound Barrier (of the legendary "Hey, Hey" 45 on Zounds), Noah consisted of Mark Scheuring (guitar & lead vocals), Larry Davis (drums), Paul Hess (bass & backup vocals) and Danny Hall (keyboards & backup vocals). In 1972 the band recorded in just two days a concept album titled "Brain Suck" at Cleveland Recording studios with engineer/producer Ken Hamann (of Grand Funk Railroad and James Gang fame). Noah's music was dark and heavy, dominated by killer Hammond organ, hard guitar and powerful vocals. This is truly a major find for anyone into hard psychedelia. In the words of Steve Krakow (Plastic Crimewave): "it conjures the heavy, doomy vibe of Blue Cheer's "Fruit and Icebergs" suite; the bluster of Sir Lord Baltimore (but maybe with Keith Emerson on keys); and a biker ferocity found on the Fraction Moonblood LP. I'm also imagining Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, or Vanilla Fudge on some bad drugs with a Mothers-like malignance". The LP sessions were never released properly (in fact a truncated vinyl edition with some songs missing and late Sound Barrier demos added was released in 1995 by Al Simones on his Head Records label, without the band's knowledge) so this is the first time that the "Brain Suck" album has been released as originally intended by the band. RIYL: Blue Cheer, Sir Lord Baltimore, Fraction, Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf