Surf Snapshot
🌊 Style: Sci-Fi Instrumental Surf / Space-Age Spaghetti Western
💿 Record Label: House of Tabu/Double Crown Records (Release: July 1, 2026)
🎸 The Drip: Eerie, spacey sci-fi synth and keyboard melodies floating over blistering, cinematic dual-guitar tremolos and razor-sharp leads
🇨🇦 Hometown: 🇺🇸 Hometown: USA (Midwest Regional Scene)
🎧 Highly Recommended Tracks: Track 3 ('One Step Beyond the Sea'), Track 4 ('Little Green Men'), Track 7 ('Shadow Rising')
Leviathans are primordial sea creatures in mythology, often depicted as powerful, destructive beings that predate angels and humans.
Jump to present day…Thee Leviathans are a surf instrumental supergroup composed of genre veterans. Enter The Dusky Realm is their first full release. With an ominous name like that, you would expect some powerfully moving music. Based on two singles I have heard prior to this release, I would say the name and associated artwork are a good match.
The artwork on the album’s inner and outer sleeves is excellent. I think it falls somewhere between cartoons like The Jetsons and Samurai Jack. Both are iconic shows that feature exceptional graphics.
Here
is some background on who they are:
Patrick O’Connor (Lead guitar): The most prominent figure in the lineup
within the modern instrumental surf community. For over two decades, he has
been renowned as one half of the blistering dual-guitar assault of The Madeira
alongside Ivan Pongracic (of The Space Cossacks). O’Connor wrote many of The
Madeira’s signature anthems and has shared stages with surf legends like Dick
Dale and Paul Johnson.
Savannah O’Connor (Keyboards): Provides the characteristically eerie,
spacey, and vibrant sci-fi synth/keyboards melodies that set Thee Leviathans
apart from traditional ’60s surf acts
Aric Harris (Bass), a longtime bass player from the San Francisco Bay Area, has performed in everything from musical pit orchestras and symphonies to jazz ensembles and Hawaiian bands.
Ed Cho (Rhythm guitar): A longtime collaborator with Patrick who plays
rhythm guitar for Thee Leviathans and has appeared with O’Connor in a variety
of bands, such as The Shake Ups, Resounding Maybes, and The Threepios.
Steven Hinckley (Drums): A longtime rhythm-section collaborator of Patrick’s in the regional music scene, the two have played together for close to 25 years.
“From Beneath” begins the journey into a new world. And we’re off to a great start with atmospheric, churning keyboards, tight rhythms from the bass and drums, and crisp, full guitar notes. It sounds like a soundtrack to a sci-fi thriller.
“Unholy Mackerel” has a throwback twang and tone with western scenery around the fringes. The keyboards provide a layer of mystery as the guitar tremolo resonates beautifully. The bottom end pulls back a bit on this one compared to the previous track and holds down the all-important foundation with exceptional skill. The guitar cuts away and rocks several times for a colorful, exciting musical trip.
“One Step Beyond the Sea” takes things to another place with a mellower, surfy twang, and the keyboards shift with the guitar’s beautiful notes, floating over a layer of orchestral sound. It felt like warm rays of the sun and a cooling summer breeze. The transition was immense compared to previous tracks, showcasing brilliant diversity. It gave me the chills, so beautiful. Rhythmically sound and tastefully done.
“Little Green Men” brings things back to the sci-fi theme they are so adept at creating with their sound. The keyboards sound like a theremin, as the guitar’s pinpoint leads and changing directions keep you interested without fail. At one point, the bass and drums are superb, able to stop immediately and start in a new direction. There are some western twangs and sounds in there as well (cowboy aliens?). Very cool combination of space age spaghetti western.
“The Lonely Esper” features a strumming acoustic guitar backing the twangy electric leads. The keyboards provide that extra layer, completing the atmospheric cinematic sound they create. Many fine transitions unfold (as you will find typical), keeping you intrigued straight through.
“And Yeti Lives…” is the longest stretch at 4:10, and the goal here is to create an air of mystery because of the subject matter. The Yeti is the Asian version of Sasquatch. The keyboards are perfect (it reminded me of shows like The Munsters or The Addams Family). The guitar starts in a mellow, purposeful direction, briefly raises the tempo, then returns to the original pace. The bass and drums are nicely subdued, letting the guitar and keyboards lead the way.
“Shadow Rising” starts with a heavy bass line before the guitar jumps in with rapid-fire notes, while the keyboards continue to add an extra layer of soundtrack for more taste and color. The guitar’s transition is superb here, jumping back and forth between heavier chords to create a resonant tremolo. A surf instro dandy!
“Enter the Spy Magician” is filled with sound to mirror the title. Excellent rhythm guitar backs the razor-sharp leads. Cool effects emerge as well. I thought of Mason Williams’ “Classical Gas” a few times. The keyboard layer is superb once again, always the proverbial icing on the cake in these tracks.
“The Hordes of Batmantis” conjures some strange images in your mind’s eye, but that is the idea here. Listening to the keyboards’ trepidation and the lead guitar’s outstanding rhythms and flow paints the necessary picture. Your imagination takes off with the music, and that is exactly what they are achieving on these tracks. An atmospheric toe tapper.
“Out of City Limits” creates another scenario where your imagination can run wild. I thought of the show The Outer Limits (the knock-off of Twilight Zone back in the day). The rhythm section is rock solid once again as the guitar and keyboards take off and deliver you to a place where only the brave will tread. Spot on rhythmic twang!
“The Dusky Realm” is the all-important title track. They are certainly exceptional at creating distinct realms with their sound. Here is no exception, as they traverse the land of surf instrumental and rock. The Shadows came to mind more than once while listening to the lead guitar.
“Yowie!” changes direction yet again with a carnival-like atmosphere via the keyboards. The cymbals crash away, and the bass absolutely kills it here. This is retro first-wave twang rendered beautifully. A nod to the roots of surf instro!
“Last Atlantean” ends this amazing musical journey, starting with the sound of a wave. The guitar twang and reverb call out to you. Some nice acoustic strumming adds an extra layer of beauty, while the keyboards provide an orchestral backdrop. The bass and drums are restrained and spot-on, matching the tempo of both guitars. I like to call this island surf, warm, mellow, and tasteful from beginning to end, and the sound of waves and seagulls to end it, perfect.
Enter The Dusky Realm doesn’t just raise the bar for surf instrumental albums—it obliterates it. Every track is a vivid journey, dripping with atmosphere, masterful musicianship, and a fearless sense of adventure. If there’s a more imaginative or electrifying surf record this year, I haven’t heard it. This is a triumphant, genre-defining release that demands to be experienced at full volume.
Keith
“MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Founder
June
9, 2026
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