I've thought of Valis as one of the most unique bands in the whole stoner/doom world, if indeed that's where you want to put them. I figured that any group which sported an ex member of the interesting hard psych group Solomon Grundy, not to mention a member of the early QOTSA sessions, was worth a listen. Which was absolutely true. The group also included the talents of younger bro Patrick, not to mention ex-TAD Kurt Danielson. They combined their Washington state 80s and 90s backgrounds with a love of Hawkwind and Sabbath, a warped pop sensibility and a boatload of drugs to create a musical entity that owed nothing at all to Kyuss, despite Van's interaction with Josh Homme. Valis altered the consciousness of all that heard them, and rightfully so. Their new album, Head Full of Pills, continues this true stoner tradition, with a few minor changes. For one, the album seems more stoner rock than the first one. The songs seem heavier, but also a bit more "song-like" in their arrangement.

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