Sardinian Stoner/Psych Duo Bentrees Releases "Silver Veins": A Heartfelt Tribute to Personal and Cultural Identity
Bentrees is a stoner psych band from Italy who got their start in 2012, later cementing their lineup as a duo in 2014. With Riccardo Podda on guitar and vocal duties and Mauro Cocco frenetically pounding away at the drums, Bentrees creates a massive sound in spite of their size, creating riff driven tones whose captivating atmospheres know no bounds. Within the depths of their hypnotic sound, you'll hear influences of 70s hard rock, stoner/desert rock, and psychedelic rock, a trifecta Bentrees has kept going across their first two highly esteemed albums: Psychollage (2017) and Two of Swords (2025). (The song Hermit from Two of Swords is something I consider to be required stoner rock listening).
Besides two very solid albums, Bentrees has created a name for themselves as a must-see live act in Europe, sharing the stage with beloved bands such as Yawning Man, Black Rainbows, and The Cosmic Dead.
Now, in 2025, Bentrees is back with their first album in four years (and their second with Argonauta Records) titled Silver Veins. On this release, Bentrees demonstrates that they hold their foundations and original influences close while continuing to push the boundaries of their sound even further - through the desert, under the sea, and beyond the exosphere. Perhaps even more importantly, the band views Silver Veins as a vehicle with which to embark upon an "introspective journey into personal and cultural identity, balancing massive riffs, psychedelic vibes, and a deep connection to the band's Sardinian roots."
Silver Veins was released on October 17, 2025 via Argonauta Records.
Bentrees - Silver Veins
1.) The Sky Never Dies
The Sky Never Dies breaks ground on Silver Veins with a coarse and gravelly stoner/desert undertone marked by effervescent bubbles of refreshing psychedelic rock. The latter is beautifully (and generously) expanded upon throughout the second third of the song, a cool oasis of scintillating guitar tones and light, energetic drumming. The stoner/desert element of the song, primarily present during the vocal portions, has a noticeably commanding feel - a renewed, confident energy heard in the voice and in instrumentals alike. It's this vitality as well as the trademark mesmeric Bentrees tones that make The Sky Never Dies a brilliant choice for the first single the band released from Silver Veins...a song that screams "Bentrees is back!"
2.) The Sea
The aptly-titled The Sea, with sounds of ocean spray audible in its intro, certainly emulates the ebb and flow of the briny deep. This song begins with breezy, soothing tones and hypnotic vocalizations, reminiscent of a calm shoreline with waves gently but rhythmically rolling in. By the first chorus, the unpredictability of the sea is heard in the churning guitar tones, crashing drums, and emphatic but soaring vocals. This energy continues to build, ultimately leading to a tempest of sound. However, this storm isn't dark and ominous - there's a striking beauty in her capriciousness and power that leaves onlookers agape in an appreciative awe.
3.) Away
Away is a song that's cleverly driven by contrast, even more starkly so than the usual Bentrees fare. It begins on the most fragile ground, with the gentle sparkle of chimes, blooming cymbal rolls, and delicate guitar. Very suddenly, the listener is jarred in the best way by a towering wall of stoner/desert rock that drops in along with strong, confident vocals that assert themselves with an almost chantlike cadence. From here, some bewitching Eastern influences infiltrate the sound, which begins to calm, ultimately becoming a light and spiraling but somewhat apprehensive interlude, punctuated by booming echoes of percussion. Then, even more abruptly than the first time, the dense, harsh tones of the desert return as both passion and chaos increase all around, drawing the listener deeper and deeper into an encompassing cyclone of fervor.
4.) Alienated
At the album's midway point, fourth track Alienated marks a noticeable shift in sound. Here, delicate and atmospheric post rock blends with the murky tones of grunge, another phenomenal example of Bentrees' use of contrast and blending genres in highly creative ways.
5.) Beyond the Mind
Beyond the Mind follows a captivating pattern that begins with sharper, cleaner guitar that really allows the listener to appreciate the accompanying delicate splash of the cymbal and the velvety smooth melody of Riccardo's vocals. These hushed tones briefly move through a funky, acidic style of psychedelia before blasting off into the crushingly dense but astoundingly vast atmospheres of spacey stoner/psych. It's a roller coaster of both feeling and sound that makes impeccable use of building.
6.) Silver Veins
The organic movement, chill-inducing crescendos, and unfettered passion that encompasses title track Silver Veins had me riddled with appreciative goosebumps and nearly in awe-inspired tears as I listened. This song contains everything we know and love about Bentrees: heavy riffs, hypnotic psychedelia, and clever twists and turns that always leave you wondering which direction the song will go next. However, my favorite things about this song are that killer cyclonic riff (first making an appearance at the 1:37 mark), the unbridled emotion in the vocals, and the pure authenticity of that free-flowing feeling. Silver Veins unfolds in the most natural way, waxing and waning and pulsing with emotion in such a way that the heart of the band is starkly palpable throughout.
Final Thoughts
Silver Veins is a work of art, layered with sharply defined strata and finished with intricate details that paint a breathtaking portrait of everything that makes Bentrees tick. Within its shades and hues, you'll find allusions to personal evolution and appreciative tributes to the natural world, especially to the land that the duo calls home. Bentrees paints these scenes in their typical way: with clever use of contrast, building, and by blending their stylistic influences into a kaleidoscope of hypnotic but intensely immersive sound. However, there seems to be a renewed vigor and heightened passion present on Silver Veins that not only signals a bit of a comeback for the band after a few years-long studio hiatus, but it underscores the personal importance of the album's subject matter to the duo. I will always adore every song and every album Bentrees has ever released (or ever will release), but Silver Veins undoubtedly stands out as something very special, something that was carefully and lovingly crafted with skill and time.
Bentrees is one of those bands that can do no wrong in my eyes, and naturally, when one of my favorite groups is about to release an album, I can pretty much assume that it will be great. Silver Veins not only blew those high expectations out of the water, but it ran with them, taking my heart and soul on a journey that left me feeling both rejuvenated and indescribably appreciative, not only of many details of the world around me, but of the immense talent that resides in the underground music scene. The passion that bleeds from every note of Silver Veins is a powerful reminder as to why I continue to support the heavy underground with my silly little words. THIS is the kind of potent, heartfelt stuff that keeps me inspired and keeps me going, both as a music fan and as a human being.
Bravo!
More About Bentress
Bentrees Is:
Riccardo Podda - Guitar, Vocals
Mauro Cocco - Drums
You can follow Bentrees and listen to their music at the following links:
A massive thank you to Grand Sounds PR for the promo!
CHECK OUT SCREAMING FROM THE HEAVY UNDERGROUND ON YOUTUBE!
BENTREES - SILVER VEINS REVIEW, VIDEO VERSION:
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