Royal Thunder

CVI (Relapse)

Mlny Parsonz’ hair-raising howl on 2010 EP Royal Thunder branded itself with “Sleeping Witch.” Returning here, that incantation, combined with down-tuned leadoff “Parsonz Curse,” cries Heart covering Zeppelin at every spooky psych roar. Banshee control inherent to CPR pounder “No Good” could use a few more thunderous tempos, but beware Parsonz’s hex. ***

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

San Francisco native Raoul Hernandez crossed the border into Texas on July 2, 1992, and began writing about music for the Chronicle that fall, debuting with an album review of Keith Richards’ Main Offender. By virtue of local show previews – first “Recommendeds,” now calendar picks – his writing’s appeared in almost every issue since 1993.