Isaiah Mitchell, Mario Rubalcaba, and Mike Eginton create astral improv – metal grade, jam-elongated, and jazz modulated. Witnessing the California trio lock into 10-minute time warps proves thrilling to the point of near incomprehension at the sheer feat. Fourth studio LP Black Heaven adds spot vocals without losing velocity.: “The big deal about the whole thing is that we’re not known for doing it,” acknowledges singer-shredder Mitchell. “For me, personally, singing isn’t this radical new thing. It’s just another instrument to add.”: Speaking from Marin County where the picking’s good – specifically mushrooms and American Indian arrowheads – he shrugs off the assertion that no guitarist in any genre solos as continuously as he does onstage in heated engagement with drum monster Rubalcaba (Rocket From the Crypt).: “I mean we have parts,” says Mitchell. “We’re not nonstop. I think it’s just out of necessity and trying to make things interesting on the fly. If Mike’s holding down the chord changes, I do go in there and riff and solo, then get back to changes and more guitar solos. I guess I don’t think much about it, but I never did anything quite like that before Earthless.: “But it takes a lot of work to get a 15- or 20-minute instrumental to flow and hopefully not be monotonous or lose the listener.”: New album opener “Gifted by the Wind,” part Hendrix, part James Gang, is vocally Southern and even under seven minutes.: “I’m personally a big ZZ Top fan,” reveals Mitchell. “I love Joe Walsh. But yeah, I mean, we’re all ZZ Top guys and I think it sinks in there on that song.”