New full-length album from the Chicago-based duo of Steven Hess and Michael Vallera: Cleared play monolithic drone/rock that crosses the cinematic aspect of Starving Weirdos/Ensemble Economique with a black cultic seam that draws on early Ash Ra/Amon Duul and the Silence-era giants. Using guitar, drums, percussion, electronics and tape/samples the duo move from thick, semi-static walls of modulated feedback w/isolated fog horn tones rising from the murk through full-on lumbering psych guitar nod-outs w/a dramatic Savage Republic edge that collapse into dark whorls of drone illuminated by percussive ritual workings and distant coronas of F/X that could almost be Salt Marie Celeste-era Nurse With Wound. It’s a great *sounding* record too and makes for an immersive headphone trip. Edition of 500 LPs in beautiful heavy gatefold sleeves.