From a distance, the title track from Deafheaven's sophomore LP, Sunbather, sounds like a particularly harrowing and intense display of might. But in the lovingly crafted details, the song is all about dynamics: George Clarke's raw shriek is pure urgency and desperation; percussionist Daniel Tracy's rhythms vary from hailstorm to sunshower as the movements progress and demand; and Kerry McCoy's guitars ring out from a din of reverb and noise, bringing melody and muscle, guiding the song through clouds to Olympian heights, and then dipping gracefully, suddenly, into shadows. The final quarter of the 10-minute-plus "Sunbather" is a study in contrast and momentum: A dizzying post-black metal barrage relents, and suddenly the guitars and bass are gentle ripples in an otherwise placid dream-pop pool; then, everything ascends at once, and all the elements combine to reach higher peaks still -- climax upon climax, until it is hushed.
I wrote about Sunbather's opening track, "Dream House," when it premiered on the 1st of this month; it's the best song I've heard this year, full stop. If you haven't already, go download it right now. You can listen to "Sunbather" below. And I strongly encourage you to do so. And you can check out Deafheaven live at one of the many stops on their just-announced US tour, dates/venues for which are also below.
Deafheaven tour dates:
05/18 - San Francisco, CA @ The Showdown (DJ Set & Sunbather Listening Party)
05/22 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
05/23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
05/24 - Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
06/19 - Tempe, AZ @ The Yucca Tap Room
06/21 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
06/22 - Austin, TX @ Red 7
06/23 - Houston, TX @ Mango's
06/25 - Orlando, FL @ Will's Pub
06/26 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
06/26 - North Birmingham, AL @ The Forge
06/27 - Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone Club
06/29 - Raleigh, NC @ Kings Barcade
06/30 - Washington, DC @ Rock N Roll Hotel
07/01 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Barbary
07/02 - Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus Bar
07/03 - Cambridge, MA @ T.T. The Bear's Place
07/05 - Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
07/06 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
07/07 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick Lounge
07/08 - Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar
07/09 - Denver, CO @ The Marquis Theater
07/10 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
07/11 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
07/13 - Portland, OR @ Bunker Bar
07/15 - San Francisco, CA @ The Bottom of the Hill
Sunbather is out 6/11 via Deathwish, Inc.
