For Smote, going further out means digging deeper in. Less an escape into the cosmic and more a descent into the soil, their music converges with roots, vibrations, and repetition. Forged with mantric intensity, Songs From The Free House - the group’s fifth release for Rocket Recordings - continues their tradition of building monumental sound from primal forces. The megalithic drive of 2024’s A Grand Stream set a powerful precedent, reinforced by live shows that have earned Smote a reputation for crafting visionary soundscapes of amplified ritual and atmosphere. This new collection offers five gnostic incantations that open fresh portals. While core member Daniel Foggin once again plays and sings almost everything, the recording at Blank Studios with Sam Grant (Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs) introduces a broader, more expansive approach. Contributions from Sally Mason (Smote live band) on vocals and Ian Lynch (Lankum) on Uilleann pipes further enrich the texture. The result is a work that blurs boundaries between ancient and modern, primal and eternal - an audial monument passed down like tradition itself.