London, England, UK • 1971-1973

Sardonicus was a short-lived heavy psych band hailing from Lewisham, South East London that was active from 1971 until 1973. The line-up included vocalist Chris Ransome, Valentine Pascal on lead guitar, Malcolm Bennett on bass, and Paul Fisher on drums. In 1973 they cut their only record, a 45 featuring "Evaporated Brain" and "Nymph." Only 101 copies were pressed – each was housed in a hand-made gatefold sleeve with artwork provided by Malcolm's brother, Graham Bennett.

These two tracks capture the band's raw, experimental sound and represent an excellent example of early '70s UK underground psych rock. Years later, "Evaporated Brain" was to reach a wider audience when it was included on the cult bootleg compilation Do What Thou Wilt and again on the excellent Acid Nightmares compilation from Numero Group. Although these two cuts were the only releases during the lifetime of Sardonicus, it was later discovered that two further songs were recorded during this session, although the tapes have been lost.

Despite their short career, Sardonicus left behind an inspiring legacy of DIY ingenuity. Their recordings, featuring driving rhythms, searing guitar work, and unorthodox constructions, continue to intrigue fans of heavy rock, serving as an example of the rich underground scene that existed during the early '70s in London.