Review Summary: Looking back at a special album.
I moved to LA in 2013, leaving friends bitterly behind, and this was the soundtrack to my summer. So much nostalgia. I listened to Sunbather for the first time when I was about to reach San Diego to visit my friend stationed there and I was inspired to draw something that went with the music. I pulled over and with a pen drew a man with needles in him and the shading poured onto the man like a dark existential sludge. Facial features corrupted by it. Although at the same time, on the other side of the paper, the image bled through and resembled a resurrected Christ like figure of the disturbed man I drew. The needles and the dark shading weren’t as visible. I guess you can’t have darkness without light? The universe gave me an answer. When I arrive the warm and sunny "Irresistible" comes on and I arrive to see sun shining down on the pier where all the ships were stationed. Ready to see a friend after months of isolation. I marveled and “cried into an ocean of light “
George Clarke, the vocalist, has stated lyrically Sunbather is an album about wealth disparity and opportunities slipping away. When I heard lyrics on "Vertigo": “the approaching eulogy of the world”, combined with the earth shattering drums(I don’t know how black metal purists don’t think this album is heavy) ,plus the shrill/harsh sounding guitar, it played to me like a loose concept album about the end of days. Take the next song "Windows." The hypnotic Godspeed sounding swells of guitar with the street preacher saying, “hell is real” and “god is storing up wrath for the day of wrath”. This concept (whether intentional by the band or not) combined with the angelic sounding thunderous chords of every song on the album, felt like the world could end at any moment and I’d be ok. Whether this was intentional by the band or not, it is undeniably an apocalyptic sounding work.
I’ve listened to this record probably close to 50 times. I always discover something new and find a scream or a riff denser than I remember. The tortured screaming ending off vertigo and the sublime tension building guitar work make me think of a tower or lighthouse crumbling. Can’t shake the image. It’s vocally and instrumentally dense, scary stuff.
The untouchable title track, and a staple of their live shows, is a prime example of the balance of light and dark. George lays down some of the highest pitched most devastating screams ever put to tape imo, (underrated in that regard) But his vocal assault combined with the lyrics when the blast beats first come in with the triumphant sounding explosive guitar, create a sense of hope and acceptance in the end of times. The second half of the song is extremely bleak and uneasy listening, but it’s necessary for the narrator’s demons to leave him and for his spirit to be lifted back into the sun. Sunbathing if you will. The song is yin and yang.
This album is best listened to from beginning to end. It may be a daunting and intense listen, but it’s hard for me to listen to anything else during the times of my life I play Sunbather. The song lengths, while daunting at first glance, keep you entranced the whole way and pass by in the blink of an eye. Im not keen on music theory but I'll tell you now that the performances are very tight on here. The vocalist and drummer give technical, intense performances and Kerry's guitar tone is wonderful. It’s truly a special, and for me, very spiritual album that truly is a 5/5.
Best Tracks: Dream House, Sunbather, Please Remember, Vertigo.
