Astral Wizard – Earthbound

by Mark 'Yeti' Richard · April 21, 2026

Astral Wizard is a stoner rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The trio consists of Eric Ervin on vocals, guitar, organ, and drums, Dana “Erv” Ervin on vocals and bass, and Mitch Huffman on vocals, drums, and guitar. They have released 2023’s Self Titled, 2024’s Cosmic Riders EP, 2025’s Reanimated, and their latest, 2026’s Earthbound. Earthbound was released on March 27th 2026 on Hog Hole Records. It contains nine tracks at forty minutes long.

Astral Wizard is a solid hard rock band with a great heavy sound and songs that groove. The opening title track “Earthbound” has a gritty guitar tone, with layered clean vocals, and a cool swinging drum beat. Bluesy lead guitar work is scorching, along with the mountainous drum fills and atmospheric tones. “Witch Calling Me” has a vintage resonance and a nice catchy chorus. The simplicity of the riffs seep into your soul, as you find yourself hearing those tones in your head hours later. Astral Wizard are a top notch stoner hard rock band that just keeps producing killers, like “Sinister Ways” and the mellow beginning to the ear worming number “Fantasma”. The straight-up rockers like “Lights Of Lunacy” and the grooving “You’re The Devil” are just tight and catchy songs that feel good to listen to. No fancy bullshit, just acid splattered blues rock done with a deliberate edge of song crafting. Great songs are meant to move you and these nine tracks on Earthbound certainly achieve that.

“Moonshine Rats” has a raw rock energy to the song with a nice gritty tone of proto-metal glory. “Equinebriation” has an early eighties metal chugging rhythm with melodic and raspy vocals. The bouncy and steady rocking cadence keeps the vibrancy of the song alive while the foot is tapping uncontrollably. The final track called “Oasis” is the longest song on the record, nearly seven minutes in length. It has a head tripping flow to the music that just sends you along on a musical journey. The cool tribal percussion and jamming rhythms are intoxicating and before you realize that the song is all instrumental, it gracefully ends with no vocals being present at all. I think it’s a brilliant piece to finish off this excellent recording with.