Sacri Monti – Retrieval

by Mark 'Yeti' Richard · January 21, 2025

Sacri Monti is a heavy psychedelic/ progressive rock band from Oceanside, California. The band formed in 2012 and their name comes from nine sacred mountains in northern Italy. Sacri Monti has three full length albums available, 2015’s Self Titled, 2019’s Waiting Room For The Magic Hour, and their latest, 2024’s Retrieval. They also released a live album, Live At Sonic Whip 2022. The quintet consist of Brenden Dellar on vocals and guitar, Dylan Donovan on guitar, Anthony “Ant” Meier on bass, Thomas Di Benedetto on drums, and Evan Wenskay on organ and synth. Retrieval was released on July 26th 2024 on Tee Pee Records and contains six songs in thirty six minutes.

Sacri Monti opens the album with a clever presentation of 70’s sounding heavy psychedelic rock. Vintage guitar distortion that’s warm and not overly harsh with killer synthesized keyboards akin to Deep Purple. Brenden Dellar has a very distinct 1970’s sounding voice that is a great complement to the music. “Maelstrom” attracts all the classic rock accolades such as marching snare drum beats with crashing cymbals, riff strummed guitars with dynamic leads, rolling bass lines, and the grand usage of the organ. Sacri Monti has a natural texture to their songs that reeks of retro nostalgia. “Desirable Sequel” has a depth of sound that is reminiscent of the great tunes of our yesteryears. Dellar’s vocals are a big part of the charm, emoting melody and wisdom to the assorted musical constructs that the band engages.

“Intermediate Death” displays fantastic guitar harmonies from Dylan Donovan and Deller with blustering drumming courtesy of Thomas Di Benedetto. The progressive introduction is shifted when Evan Wenskay puts down an extravagant keyboard layering. The rhythmic crunchiness of the guitar and bass relish in the sharpness of the song, allowing the keys to navigate thoroughly. However, the fourth track called “Brackish/Honeycomb” is where the band excels in their musical extravaganza. They dance and dazzle their instruments with the greatest pleasure. A deep appreciation for Captain Beyond and King Crimson stylings might be evident in this elaborate expression. The syncopated rhythms and gonzo drumming are met with both intense guitar melting leads and an infectious keyboard solo. The bass playing of Anthony “Ant” Meier is also worth mentioning, as he flourishes and proliferates underneath the surface of musical accents. The song has a funk and tribal groove that radiates with sonic brilliance. The almost eight minute track is a statement of talent and captivating performance garnered by Sacri Monti.

“Moon Cavern” is a beautiful acoustic driven instrumental that has an atmospheric quality to it. The melodic two and a half minute song acts as an enchanting interlude for Retrieval and a great precursor to the final track. “More Than I” closes out the album in a fantastic way. The song sounds like it was written in the seventies with its many layers of musical magnetism. The clean guitar beginning bust into a heavy rocking ensemble, dressed with shredding guitars and covered by keyboards. The vocals are strong and emotive and Sacri Monti goes full tilt with transferring heavy into light with flawless elegance. The almost nine and a half minute odyssey is a highlighting completion to a pristine and impeccable recording.