Happy April 20th to those who celebrate. In honor of this day, I thought it would be fun to do a different take on Receiving the Evcharist, which if you’re new to the column, is where we pair an album with a beer/libation of some sort. Today I am pairing a stoner/heavy rock album with a garden gummy, so let us… smoke from the bong of heresy. This week’s offerings: Elk Witch’s Azimuth and The Botanist’s Mandarin Orange Gummies.

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The Tunes: Elk Witch — Azimuth

Heavy rock trio Elk Witch drew inspiration for this album from a trip to the high desert in Eastern Oregon. Thriving in the isolation and enjoying the diversity of the desert landscape with high peaked snow-covered mountains, the vision for Azimuth was born. Perfectly accompanying the visuals of the album and adding to the overall feel of a spiritual journey, lyrically the album focuses on both the past and future of existence as well as time and space. Combined with psychedelic riffs, instrumental interludes, ambient passages, distant vocals, and groovy rhythms, Azimuth is a vibe and a very solid sophomore album from the band. Most tracks offer about a minute of guitars and drums before vocals are introduced, setting the mood for each piece and letting listeners sink into the melodies. “Liminal Space” and “Vortex” are purely instrumental tracks creating unique soundscapes and letting Elk Witch’s talents as musicians shine. “Liminal Space” is a softer piece with a simple guitar melody, while “Vortex” opens ambiently with the sound of crickets chirping in the night while a rumbling is heard approaching with wind before a marching bassline ensues with a wailing guitar solo. Each piece on Azimuth offers something a little different, making the tracks distinguishable and memorable, yet they all work together to take listeners on a journey of mystic proportion. The title track and leading single from the album has sludgy riffs, distant vocals where you feel like you have to squint to hear the words (you know what I mean), and plenty of rocking guitar solos. It is pure stoner rock goodness. Azimuth is a perfect album to indulge in a garden gummy or however you prefer to intake recreational buds, relax on a comfy piece of furniture, contemplate existence and space, and enjoy the ride.  

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The Indulgence: The Botanist — Mandarin Orange Gummies

I have tried quite a few brands of gummies and The Botanist is one of my favorites. Not only do they have tasty flavors such as Key Lime, Green Apple, and Mango Peach, but they release slowly and offer the same experience every time. Other brands have been inconsistent for me, and even within the same jar offer a different sort of high. With The Botanist, I know what I am getting every single time. These Mandarin Orange gummies are a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD with 10 mg of each. One is great but more often than not, I will opt for half of one to relax and enjoy being zen without the insatiable munchies. Either way, these help me relax and help lift any anxiety or blues I may be feeling. Paired with a bath, a walk, a movie, or a great stoner metal album, these gummies offer a heightened experience to enjoy and appreciate the present moment.

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Cheers and blessed be,

– Angela