That belief sets the stage for "H. luminous," the new EP from Ithaca, NY rock band Ayurveda, which weaves the story of a shamanic journey of transformation together with a 25-minute, eight-section musical concept piece.

"H. luminous" will be released May 11, and the band is on a national tour introducing it live now. See below for a track list and tour dates.

Ayurveda is an adventurous five-member rock band featuring two Nepalese guitarists, Diwas Gurung and Shikhar Bajracharya, alongside singer Tom Burchinal, bassist Dan Halperin and drummer Mike Parker. "Ayurveda" is a Sanskrit word meaning "the knowledge, wisdom, or science of life." It is an ancient system of philosophy and naturopathic health care rooted in the Hindu Vedas, applying in very individualized ways to the physical, mental, social and spiritual welfare of all who practice it. The band members chose the name as an emblem of their own journey of spiritual exploration through music.

The storyline of "H. luminous" grew from Buchinal's own study of the 2012 phenomenon. "I began reading, listening, and watching everything I could about the Maya and their culture," he says. "As soon as I would close one door, another would open. I got very much into the observance of shamanism and began to practice a little on my own. At the time, I had no clue what I was doing. I suppose I still don't. But "H. luminous" is about this re-emerging contemporary shamanic vision and practice, being experienced and shared concurrently by more and more people every day. People whom I believe are the direct precursors to the emergence of Homo luminous."

The music on "H. luminous" had a similarly intuitive, exploratory origin. Ayurveda's four instrumentalists actually set out to write that most elusive of things for a progressive rock band, a four-minute single. But the music took them elsewhere, and soon the whole band realized that something much more ambitious was taking shape. Mystical, atmospheric sounds in some parts of the album call to mind Radiohead; other more ponderous and titanic sections evoke the power of Led Zeppelin and the primal virtuosity of Tool. "H. luminous" was recorded live in the studio, with the four instrumentalists playing together and only the vocals overdubbed later. Burchinal's parts were added in a similar style later, with all lead and harmony vocals recorded in a single four-hour session. The aim was to capture the intuitive, collaborative vibe in which the album was written.

By the end, it's clear that this isn't your average, puerile garage band stuff; Ayurveda has created something masterful and transformative, as exploratory in words as it is in exotic melody and tricky, beguiling rhythms.

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"H. LUMINOUS" TRACK LIST

1. Serpent & Shaman
2. Xibalba
3. First Vision
4. The Channeling
5. Quetzalcoatl
6. Rebirth
7. Homo Luminous
8. Starchild

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AYURVEDA TOUR DATES