Maanta Raay

Maanta Raay is a riff-casting, power trio from Nashville, Tennessee. Their self-titled debut is full of the heavier side of psychedelia. While the influences are apparent — Leigh Stephens (Blue Cheer), Jaki Liebezeit (CAN), Daphne Oram, Randy Rhoads, James Jamerson, Ron Asheton — the record’s interstellar overdrive vs droned-out tempos, musi-quinox arrangements, sometimes garage rawness (members include ex-Quadrajets, Immortal Lee County Killers, and Modern Convenience) and unleashed layers of sonica, all testify that the band’s mission is to make it new.

The emerging band, featuring Mason Hadley (b), Carlos Ortiz (d), and Chet Weise (g/v), has already shared bills with the likes of Earthless, Boris, Minami Deutsch, Melvins, and Napalm Death. Experience the RAAY live or try them out on headphones to hear a band in search of the next sound, just like Weise sings, “Golden teachers teach a lesson/ the universe can be a VHS left unwound / but sunlight reaches Earth in just eight minutes.