Album artwork for Sunbather by Deafheaven
Album artwork for Sunbather by Deafheaven
Album artwork for Sunbather by Deafheaven
Album artwork for Sunbather by Deafheaven

On Sunbather, their sophomore album, San Francisco's Deafheaven imbue their sound with elements of shoegaze and post-rock, creating a stunning sonic shift from suffocating darkness to enveloping light. Made up of four sprawling tracks strung together by ambient interstitials, the album drifts between moments of manic catharsis and contemplative calm, allowing the listener a moment of respite in its expansive soundscapes before releasing another intense deluge of rhapsodic emotion (and blastbeats). Amazingly, Deafheaven manage to make an album that feels completely different, tonally speaking, from any other death metal record, while still tackling the same subject. The album explores themes of death, regret, doubt, loss, and fear, but it does so through poetic exploration rather than profane confrontation. This lighter touch gives the listener time to really internalize and reflect upon the lyrics rather than react viscerally, making for an altogether deeper experience for those willing to take the time to really take the album in. Many bands go through their entire career without making an album as well crafted, fully realized, and downright gorgeous as Sunbather, and somehow, Deafheaven have managed to nail it on their second outing, with an album that seems to get bigger and more affective with each listen.

Deafheaven

Sunbather

Deathwish
Album artwork for Sunbather by Deafheaven
LPx2

$36.99

2020 Colored Vinyl Reissue

One Pink Vinyl, One Yellow

Released 09/04/2020Catalog Number

DWS-619833

Learn more
Album artwork for Sunbather by Deafheaven
LPx2 +

$32.99

10th Anniversary, Indie Exclusive

Orange/Yellow/Pink Haze

Released 11/17/2023Catalog Number

DW251VINDIE

Learn more
Album artwork for Sunbather by Deafheaven
LPx2 +

$32.99

10th Anniversary

Bone/Gold & Pink/Red Swirl

Released 11/17/2023Catalog Number

DW251V

Learn more
Album artwork for Sunbather by Deafheaven
CD

$14.99

10th Anniversary

Released 11/17/2023Catalog Number

DW251

Learn more
Deafheaven

Sunbather

Deathwish
Album artwork for Sunbather by Deafheaven
LPx2

$36.99

2020 Colored Vinyl Reissue

One Pink Vinyl, One Yellow

Released 09/04/2020Catalog Number

DWS-619833

Learn more
Album artwork for Sunbather by Deafheaven
LPx2 +

$32.99

10th Anniversary, Indie Exclusive

Orange/Yellow/Pink Haze

Released 11/17/2023Catalog Number

DW251VINDIE

Learn more
Album artwork for Sunbather by Deafheaven
LPx2 +

$32.99

10th Anniversary

Bone/Gold & Pink/Red Swirl

Released 11/17/2023Catalog Number

DW251V

Learn more
Album artwork for Sunbather by Deafheaven
CD

$14.99

10th Anniversary

Released 11/17/2023Catalog Number

DW251

Learn more

On Sunbather, their sophomore album, San Francisco's Deafheaven imbue their sound with elements of shoegaze and post-rock, creating a stunning sonic shift from suffocating darkness to enveloping light. Made up of four sprawling tracks strung together by ambient interstitials, the album drifts between moments of manic catharsis and contemplative calm, allowing the listener a moment of respite in its expansive soundscapes before releasing another intense deluge of rhapsodic emotion (and blastbeats). Amazingly, Deafheaven manage to make an album that feels completely different, tonally speaking, from any other death metal record, while still tackling the same subject. The album explores themes of death, regret, doubt, loss, and fear, but it does so through poetic exploration rather than profane confrontation. This lighter touch gives the listener time to really internalize and reflect upon the lyrics rather than react viscerally, making for an altogether deeper experience for those willing to take the time to really take the album in. Many bands go through their entire career without making an album as well crafted, fully realized, and downright gorgeous as Sunbather, and somehow, Deafheaven have managed to nail it on their second outing, with an album that seems to get bigger and more affective with each listen.