Since their inception, Deafheaven have always been that band not to show where they’re going next. After releasing what some could consider their magnum opus in Sunbather (Deathwish Inc.), the band did not let that define the band they would become. Only two years later, they’d return with the far more moody New Bermuda (Anti Records/Epitaph Records). This would continue for the career they’d lead up to this point, especially in their previous efforts, Infinite Granite (Sargent House), taking the band from the Blackgaze sound they had cultivated and popularised, in search of a lighter, synthier approach. That brings us to the modern day, and it seems for all the teasing the band have done over the lead-up to their new project, Lonely People With Power, their debut release in their new deal with Roadrunner Records. This appears to be a culmination of what’s come before in one solid package, how these conflicting sounds will come together and meld is a completely different matter altogether.
Opening with the first of three instrumental tracks, “Incidental,” the band immediately place you into the tone the album will carry on with for the entire project. Ambient tones filling the space, whilst this eerie distorted fog-like sound takes the centre stage, invoking moodiness but with this mysterious edge that urges you to listen on. This passage swells and begins to become almost more claustrophobic, before launching straight into the 2nd song “Doberman”. Bringing out the guitars immediatly, vocalist George Clarke chiming in with his iconic black metal-esque screams. While this fast-paced frenetic guitarwork accompanied by these harsh screams may sound like it should be signalling the troops for chaos on the gig floor, there’s almost a serenity to be found behind the music. Like being in the eye of the storm, while the maelstrom of the album encircles you.
With the extended track lengths compared to the previous album, the band can make each sound stand out on its own, this is perfectly shown in the song “Amethyst,” clocking in just over 8 minutes, and the band draws out the opening notes, letting this harmonious introduction linger for what almost seems like too long before rescinding and launching into the song.
Similar to “Doberman,” when the inevitable harsh screams are brought in, this serenity built up in the first minute still lingers above all the noise intact, intermingling with the harsh sound. For some bands, they could have easily split this into several songs from the different sections sonically, however, Deafheaven have once again chosen the harder path, which has worked well in their favour.
Closing on the track “The Marvelous Orange Tree,” the final song truly brings in all the band have achieved across their discography under one umbrella, most notably, Clarke’s different vocal styles unify under one roof, the clean sounds from the previous album combining with the raw screams of their other efforts, would clash violently and awkwardly under any other band, but Deafheaven manage to bring them together to act as this ying and yang combination sonically. These two sounds interspersed across the track until this phenomenal crescendo hits hard, the guitars being strummed harder than ever before on the album, before just cutting out completely, leaving this ambient sound that was heard prior to introducing the album.
While there was backlash at the time to the previous release in Infinite Granite, with this whole new foray into synth-pop. The styles and techniques honed in that album, become abundantly clear when listening to Lonely People With Power. Deafheaven, in going headfirst into a whole new scene, genre, and style, have been able to bring the sound that they’ve cultivated from the start to a whole new level. There’s no telling what the band can or will do next. You can only trust that it’ll be done to a standard that few other bands dare reach.
Buy the album here:
https://deafheaven.lnk.to/LPWP
9 / 10
CHARLIE HILL
Follow Charlie’s work here: