Deafheaven
Sunbather

Release Date: 2013 | Tracklist

When it comes to the genre of black metal no other form of music is more divided among fans than this. Most follow the more "true" approach to BM with bands coming out of Norway, who for the most part, originated the sound of black metal while the other side prefers the much more atmospheric and progressive sound of BM coming mainly out of the U.S. which has separated the two groups of fans believing their preferred version of black metal is the best.With the band Deafheaven however they really couldn't give a F*** either way and that is especially true on their second full length "Sunbather" with this album being dead set on creating an environment and an atmosphere for the listener to get lost in while also not straying to far from their roots of black metal. Though their previous release, "Roads to Judah", was very much the same sort of approach "Sunbather" is given a much more atmospheric treatment giving this LP a lot more variety then Deafheaven's previous releases mixing shoegaze and post-rock into their already dense sound.

The Lp starts off with the lead single off this album "Dreamhouse" which starts in usual Deafheaven style with blast beats and tremolo picked guitars but as the song progresses all the instruments shift in dynamics of playing especially with the drums having a lot of variety in the playing constantly changing from blast beats to sporadically playing . While the instruments in this track are changing tempo constantly throughout Deafheaven never lose their focus in keeping the atmosphere heavy. The fifth track, "Vertigo", is another staple on this Lp and is one of their more post-rock inspired tracks on the album with the music pushing and pulling you continuously as the instruments bounce off each other and jam for the first three minutes creating a very airy mood to the song until finally the music pulls you off the edge of the ascension and forces you down with intensity with the blast beats and the bands signature black metal vocals.

The main M.O. of "Sunbather" is to constantly shift atmospheres and moods but Deafheaven are very much aware of the fact that their songs can be a bit overbearing to some, if not most, listeners with their very long and dense passages within their songs.To break up the intensity and long structures of this album Deafheaven puts a few interlude songs in between to give the listener a break with songs like "Irresistible" an instrumental which is a very solemn track with nicely played guitars and as it goes on a piano joins in and the song almost has a Godspeed/Lift your skinny fists era vibe to it.The song "Windows" has the same sort of vibe on it too with a recording of what seems like a deal of some sort between two people and a piano playing sorrowfully in the background and what sounds like a preacher reading scripture. These interlude tracks fit in very nicely within the set of seven songs and for the most part never seem out of place except for the track "Please Remember" which is put together a little weirdly.

"Sunbather" may not bring bring both parties of black metal fans together (it may more then likely divide it even more) but that's not what "Sunbather" or even Deafheaven are all about. Instead we have an album where it is continuously lifting the listener with it's rising sections of shoegaze and post-rock inspired atmospheres and dropping the listener with the intensity of black metal. Love it or hate it "Sunbather" will have many people talking more about this band than ever before and Deafheaven have really outdone themselves with an album so rich with textures and moods that it's hard to admire their ambition.

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4 excellent

Rank: #96 for 2013