Rock/Review Coolonaut - Karma Smile

From Scotland, but now living in rural Australia, Coolonaut creates analogue psychedelic mod music for the era in which we live. Inspired by the greats of the past and fueled by the increasing absurdity of the world around us. Coolonaut is self-recorded and produced using an analog 8-track machine.

With "Karma Smile", Coolonaut delivers a fearless and uncompromising third album that refuses to look away from the moral fractures shaping the modern world. Created in a period when long-held assumptions about human rights and collective responsibility feel increasingly fragile, the album channels anger, disillusionment, and moral urgency into a body of work that demands engagement rather than passive consumption. This is not background music or escapist fantasy — it is a direct response to a world in crisis.

Lyrically, "Karma Smile" confronts injustice head-on, expressing rage at violence, complicity, and the silence of mainstream voices that once carried cultural weight. Coolonaut positions the project as a form of protest and accountability, rooted in the belief in ultimate karmic justice for those who perpetuate or enable harm. There is a raw sincerity in the writing, an unfiltered emotional charge that gives the album its gravity and purpose. Instead of romantic clichés or inward-facing melodrama, the songs widen their gaze toward social responsibility, ethical reckoning, and collective consequence.

Sonically, the album carries the defiant spirit of politically charged rock, favoring urgency and conviction over polish or trend-chasing. The performances feel driven by necessity rather than ambition, giving the record an authenticity that resonates long after the final track fades. Each song feels like a statement rather than a decoration, reinforcing the album’s role as a platform for truth-telling.

Ultimately, "Karma Smile" stands as a bold reminder that art can still challenge, provoke, and speak uncomfortable truths. Coolonaut embraces the role of the outsider voice, transforming frustration into meaningful expression and proving that music remains a powerful vehicle for conscience, resistance, and hope for accountability in a darker age.