Alex Maas: The Psychedelic Voice of The Black Angels
Alex Maas is the lead vocalist, bassist, and founding member of the influential psychedelic rock band The Black Angels. Hailing from Austin, Texas, Maas has been a central figure in the modern psychedelic revival since the band's formation in 2004. The Black Angels' 2006 debut album, Passover, became a cult classic and established them as leaders of the genre.
Early career
Alex Maas co-founded The Black Angels in Austin in 2004 alongside guitarist Christian Bland. The band's name was inspired by the Velvet Underground song "The Black Angel's Death Song," signaling their deep roots in drone and psychedelic music. Their early sound was a direct, fuzzed-out homage to 1960s psych, which they first captured on a self-titled EP in 2005.
Breakthrough
The band's breakthrough arrived in 2006 with the release of their debut LP, Passover, on the independent label Light in the Attic Records. The album's heavy, drone-laden sound and politically charged lyrics resonated strongly, selling steadily and achieving a landmark certification for an independent psych record: it was certified Gold in the United States. This success cemented Alex Maas and The Black Angels as pillars of the contemporary rock underground.
Key tracks
Young Men Dead — The opening track from Passover that became the band's signature song, defining their ominous, drone-rock sound.
Telephone — A standout from 2008's Directions to See a Ghost that showcases Maas's haunting vocal delivery over a relentless, hypnotic rhythm.
Entrance Song — Another Passover track renowned for its driving bassline and instantly recognizable guitar riff, a live staple.
Currency — From 2010's Phosphene Dream, this song demonstrated a shift towards more concise, garage-rock influenced songwriting.
El Jardin — The lead single from Maas's 2020 solo debut Luca, revealing a softer, folk-tinged dimension to his artistry.
Following their early success, The Black Angels and Alex Maas continued to build their legacy, releasing albums like 2010's Phosphene Dream on Blue Horizon Ventures and 2017's Death Song on Partisan Records. Maas expanded his creative output with a solo album, Luca, in 2020, exploring quieter, more personal songwriting. His collaborations include work with artists like The UFO Club and a notable feature on the track "Ain't It Nice" by The Arcs.
Fans of Alex Maas's work with The Black Angels often appreciate the music of similar American psychedelic acts. The Brian Jonestown Massacre shares a foundational influence in 1960s drone and psych. Thee Oh Sees deliver a similarly frenetic and garage-oriented take on modern psychedelic rock. Wooden Shjips explore minimalist, repetitive grooves that align with The Black Angels' hypnotic style. Allah-Las offer a sunnier, West Coast interpretation of vintage psychedelic and garage rock sounds.
The music of Alex Maas, both with The Black Angels and as a solo artist, maintains a strong presence on radio. His tracks are regularly featured on alternative rock radio stations, dedicated psychedelic rock online streams, and independent music radio stations that champion guitar-driven, genre-defining sounds.
Listeners can explore the expansive catalog of Alex Maas through the radio stations featured on our website. Tune in to discover his influential work with The Black Angels and his solo endeavors on radio stations available on onairium.com.
