Deafheaven

I know they've been discussed elsewhere, but I think Deafheaven could use their own thread. I am admittedly a very casual metal listener, but Sunbather has really grabbed me. Not sure "black metal" is the best genre tag for it though, as the music is warm and enveloping and the overall vibe of the thing has nothing to do with coldness and hatred. Actually, the shrill vocals seem very surprising paired with this music. I don't know why it works but it does.

Road to Judah is pretty great as well.

none more false

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/04/30/deafheaven20131-caf771c53e5f8ec296d331fa960c778f8a29a48c-s6-c30.jpg

they look like they work for teach for america

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/04/30/deafheaven20131-caf771c53e5f8ec296d331fa960c778f8a29a48c-s6-c30.jpg rather

hahaha maybe wait until their second record, imagine if we had a liturgy thread

*searches* oh

Both Deafheaven and Liturgy broke through on their second records...

They just look like two guys. Maybe a little more vampiric than average but still. Xpost

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/cast-of-person-of-interest-cbs.jpg

Actually, the shrill vocals seem very surprising paired with this music.

do threadbans exist can I be banned from this thread for my own good

this band reminds me of the owl city guy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7HmzwI67ec

its really not necessary to make fun of these guys for looking like normal guys since their dull, labored-over music should rly provide sufficient ammunition.

I am admittedly a very casual metal listener, but Sunbather has really grabbed me.

It's ok bro, this record is for people like you.

Can I just post this picture of Bosse-De-Nage?

http://i58.tinypic.com/1z1bvp1.jpg

ghost of bizarro Pete Seeger to thread

Blackened Flagpole Sitta

as 'this kind of thing' goes, I can't find any photos of Neige Morte that do their look justice, but when I saw them the singer was wearing boat shoes and no socks. I wouldn't have minded but I'd just been to see Immortal

TBH these Sunbather dudes just look like co-presidents of the Death In June fan club, USA division.

Do you guys look "metal" yourselves or do you just demand this of your metal musicians?

I look like Don Knotts in a black commando sweater and a porkpie hat with a Katatonia patch sewed to it.

To be clear, I voted for this album. I just think they look funny, in a funny kinda way.

One of the worst things in the 77 imo, turned off at the first egregious quiet-loud

if anyone wants to listen to an actual good usbm record from last year with some crossover potential try out woe's withdrawal. the main guy in woe also looks like just a guy, if that's a concern at all.

You'd have to be deaf to want to listen to this band! Hahahaha

I think I give up trying to get people to check out metal since metalheads do their damned best to put people off.

treeship if you ever want recommendations feel free to webmail me or if you're on fb gimme those details. Always happy to chat about any music.

If people check out Deafheaven and it leads them to get into Weakling or Ludicra or something, great. But compromise-metal just inherently gets on my nerves.

the singer in this band screams a lot.

Lantlos! That is the best post-rock-black-metal there is, mainly because the post-rock used is of the earlier, Talk Talk-ian kind. Love their album .neon.

I dug this album, Treeship, my man. I'm not sure yet, but it might even be in my top 10.

It's unfortunate the 'black metal' label has stuck. I guess nobody else can do shrieking vocals except black metallers. Yet it can't all be just about the music, right? Or can it? Isn't most metal now just riddled with contradictions and hundreds of little factions with their own thing that all of it essentially means nothing now? I didn't think people still argued over metal.

I remember metal fans tending to be worst than English modernists when it comes to labelling, with their fervent desire to categorise music.

I guess since I like Deafheaven, I'm just driven by the wrong ideology, lack that radical individualism, and am entrenched in a mainstream group identity/herd mentality. Metal just has too many sophisticated subgenres and subcultures, man. I.e., rules. I can't judge it because I'm just a casual listener. I'll leave that to true metal listeners.

But what do I know. I guess I can't tell what I like. Can a true black metaller recommend some basement-studio, genre-crossing metal that still keeps it real...yo? Oh, sorry, that's hip hop. I'm such a dilettante. Hihihi!

Anyway, the theatrics have always put me off. So has the Peter Pan syndrome a lot of these dudes have.

I remember in secondary some guys would get magazines with build-your-own-church-to-set-fire pages and my internal laugh would echo as strongly as blast beats.

Who says those who listen to Deafheaven even want to listen to an 'actual good USBM' album? LOL.

Kthksbye. Gonna work on this http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Black-Metal-Vocals

that's a shame you get put off. The whole reason I run metal poll at eoy time is to introduce everyone on ilx who can be bothered reading it to good metal of all kinds. Hardly anyone contributes on the rollout thread though. Lack of interest or fear of being shot down?

Maybe I'm wasting my time?

who says those who read ilx want to read a nine-paragraph crimsonhexagon post about anything, lol

@۩, Oh, I listen to some recommendations here. I appreciate that. And some I like. But that's as far as I'll go. I can't be bothered to shoot down bands like Deafheaven (or replace this band with whatever equivalent in another music 'genre').

All of us listen to music differently, right?

I've hung out with metalheads since I was a kid. I remember tabbing out Old Man's Child crap for some of them. I've played music with some. Even when I stopped playing music a couple of years ago, I was around some metal musicians. I'll just clarify the obvious, just in case: a lot of them are great people, but they are also much older and have diverse musical tastes.

Young kids have always been very set in their opinions. I am much older now and don't really discuss music the way I used to when I was a kid. I'm into more cultural and historical overviews. Identifying with a musical culture is not something I do or desire now. I'd rather study it on my own time.

I played music for a little more than half of my life. If there is one thing I was always put off by, it was the theatrics of performing. That's just my thing, though.

The people I would talk to when I was a kid were trading Dimmu Borgir tapes, as well as crust punk stuff. I always felt more welcomed by those who preferred the latter. It might've just been the time and place. But again, for me, music is not about being accepted into a group of people. I can listen to one album, then switch to something completely different. I have friends who listen to totally different styles of music. The consequence of this is that your life becomes compartmentalised. I can't have all of them in the same room, because I'm sure some would despise others.

The only metal friends I've tried to get involved in other realms of my life are those who like stuff like Opeth.

Anyway, thanks for your honest reply and, again, I appreciate your recommendations, ۩.

This got to #10 in the metal poll so plenty of metal dudes like it. Think the vocals are a bit weak but it's a good record that obv overlaps with the postrock/ shoegaze crowd. Plenty more music around like that: Alcest, Les Discrets, Drudkh, Lantlos, Nachtvorst, Arsaidh, Bosse de Nage, Westering, Kultura Kureniya, etc.

If people check out Deafheaven and it leads them to get into Weakling or Ludicra or something, great. But compromise-metal just inherently gets on my nerves.

― atom bomb, vietnam, missiles on the moon (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Saturday, February 1, 2014 4:27 PM (59 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Why? Deafheaven wanted to make an album that sounded like Sunbather not one that was more orthodox black metal, either in sound or spirit. How is this a compromise? If you don't like the way they integrate bm sounds into their music that's fine -- it's a critical judgment -- but your reaction to them just seems territorial.

it def it territorial, and i don't think that's great. but i also don't think it's great when ppl are actively avoiding the context that surrounds and creates something like deafheaven.

worst sin they committed (to metalheads) and also simultaneously most genius PR move is the album art

i think that's actually the only distinctive thing about them tho, afaict

the album art is awesome! and i kinda liked judah. the music on this one just didn't work for me.

ya its cool it just looks like something gr80 would listen to u know

balearic metal

If you don't like the way they integrate bm sounds into their music that's fine -- it's a critical judgment -- but your reaction to them just seems territorial.

I just find this "let's take one or two elements of metal and glom them onto some shitty, dull post rock/shoegaze" thing grating. It's not good metal and it's not good post rock; if the only creative innovation is blending two things together poorly, why bother?

It's very good post-rock!

I'm convinced and rescind all prior arguments.

Also I do actually like the cover.

I bet you can mention more worthy BM than PR from the last few years. Sunbather put some agression and energy into the mix, and it's the best post-rock in eons, with the possible exception of the last GYBE.

i'd like to try with this band again, but the scream-o vocal style is really off-putting for me. is there anything that tones-down the yelling, or is especially accessible and hook-y (maybe that's an alternative way to approach deafheaven, if it's all scream-o vocals).

yes, i know; i'm super-duper old, and should probably be listening to paul anka.

Don't worry, their next album will probably feature some daring experimentation with clean vocals. Album after that you'll never know they were a metal band at all.

oh I'd guess their one-sheets will make liberal use of the word "metal"

I usually love mimsy pseudo-metal usually but these guys take Envy and Wolves in the Throne Room and make it into something of a shitstain. Poor man's Alcest and that's being really fucking generous.

idk if theres a joke behind yr dn i'm not getting, but i enjoy it regardless

ban cad; ki-moon

Kind of impressive that this band still makes people so angry even 8 years after Sunbather.

In many ways they're like The Strokes, only they finally turned into something worth listening to

i guess the strokes also put out their best record five albums in? but otherwise the comparison makes no sense

i'm listening to alcest for the first time in ages now to compare & he's way better at making the black metal screams work in the shoegaze context than deafheaven ever were before even if his drums are nowhere near as cool

on further listening any given three minutes of the new lantlos is better but the new deafheaven is better sequenced and the ending is sick as all heck

never got into their previous stuff but this is good

Seriously, just pipe Mombasa straight into my veins.

By and by, I wonder if Ride are the most obvious touchstone for this record. With better drumming (some of the pedal work is a joy).

This is my first time with this band, I dig it.

this is better than any ride album but there's not much of a trace of their blown-out jangle pop side of shoegaze here

Kind of getting a Tears for Fears vibe on "In Blur".

'better than any Ride album' is fighting talk

as much as going blank again rules, this certainly outdoes it

oh god OKAY i'll put it on today

Came here to say “wow, Deafheaven made a great Ride album!” Cos they did.

This is awesome. Liking it more and more.

they made an alcest album

I should check out Alcest then.

you should actually. They only really had one black metal EP (Le Secret) so anything after that shouldn't put you off really.

they made a goth Alcest album, to be more precise

this feels more distinct from alcest than their earlier work did

society if In Blur came back around for a third chorus at the end: [img-utopia]

Definitely a highlight of 2021. Hasn't faded a bit.

Is there a huge difference between the newly-released remastered version of Sunbather? I haven't had a chance to listen yet. I'll probably pick up the new CD when I see them later in Philly even if there's no real difference but I have trouble they'd put it out on formats other than vinyl if it was essentially the same thing.

New one is even more loud (i.e. compressed).

Doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement!

The ringing will be in your ears.

Deafheaven - Magnolia

link to YouTube:

via

https://www.brooklynvegan.com/deafheaven-release-their-heaviest-song-in-10-years-with-magnolia-announce-new-lp-exclusive-color-vinyl/


I am experimenting with asking the new advanced Chinese ai app, Deepseek about the new Deafheaven single released today.

Deafheaven's new single **"Magnolia"**, released today (2025-01-27), marks a return to their heavier roots after the more shoegaze-oriented *Infinite Granite* (2021). The track has been widely discussed in reviews and interviews, highlighting its aggressive sound and thematic depth. Here’s a summary of the key points from the reviews:

### 1. **Return to Heavier Sound**
- "Magnolia" is described as a bracing, aggressive track that showcases Deafheaven's signature black metal influences, with galloping dissonant riffs, blast beats, and George Clarke's intense screaming vocals.
- The single signals a shift back to a more ferocious sound, contrasting with the softer, dream-pop elements of *Infinite Granite*.

### 2. **Thematic Depth**
- The song’s title, "Magnolia," is a nod to Clarke’s family roots in Mississippi, where the magnolia is the state flower. The track explores themes of family, power dynamics, and the influence of close relationships on personal growth.
- The album *Lonely People With Power*, from which "Magnolia" is the lead single, delves into the idea of loneliness as a prerequisite for power, examining how isolation and self-preservation shape those in positions of influence.

### 3. **Production and Collaborations**
- The album was produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen (known for his work with St. Vincent and M83) and mixed by Zach Weeks of GodCity Studio. It features guest vocal contributions from Interpol’s Paul Banks and Boy Harsher’s Jae Matthews.
- The production quality has been praised for balancing the raw intensity of the music with a polished, dynamic sound.

### 4. **Reception and Context**
- Reviews highlight that "Magnolia" is a strong representation of Deafheaven’s identity, blending emotional depth with sonic ferocity. It’s seen as a return to form for fans who missed the band’s heavier side.
- The single has been accompanied by a music video directed by Sean Stout, which adds a visual layer to the song’s themes of voyeurism and personal reflection.

### 5. **Album Expectations**
- *Lonely People With Power* is set to release on March 28, 2025, and features 12 tracks, making it the longest album in Deafheaven’s discography. The inclusion of interludes and a diverse sonic palette suggests a well-rounded and dynamic record.

In summary, "Magnolia" has been well-received as a powerful and emotionally charged return to Deafheaven’s heavier roots, setting high expectations for their upcoming album. For more details, you can explore the full reviews and interviews linked in the sources.

Can we not post AI slop?

i already miss their straight shoegaze sound. still enjoyable

yeah nowhere near as much my thing as the last album was

kinda hate the sound of black metal in 2025, i know this is my problem

oh no they've stopped being shoegaze eh :(

I loved Infinite Granite. This sounds parched and not in a good way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH3PmHeJpQ4

this one answers the question: 'what if a slowdive song had screaming on it?' so it's much closer to infinite granite and i like it more than "magnolia"

This band rules

love this one so much

i would love this album if the balance of screaming/singing was reversed in favour of singing but alas

i'll always have infinite granite at least

fearing I will be much the same

"Amethyst" is a big standout for me so far. Wow.

I'm here for the screaming. Loving this so far.

100% agreed. The back half has completely floored me. I love Infinite Granite too but this is spectacular and right up there with Sunbather. And Daniel Tracy is one of the best drummers around.

i like how the middle of "body behaviour" sounds straight off in rainbows somehow

i missed "heathen"'s release so big surprise i'm listening to the album and thinking "hmmmmmm" and then it comes up and i'm like WOW I LOVE THIS

all right yeah this is definitely my second favorite album from them :)

"Amethyst" is a big standout for me so far. Wow.

Listening now, and this is the first track that really made me sit up and pay attention.

ok i've gone from being apprehensive if ultimately won over by this record to thinking it is the greatest album of all time

Somehow I missed that it's been 12 years since Sunbather, and that they put out a bunch of albums since then.

This record has been growing on me. I was never a big fan of the blackgaze sound of Sunbather, which felt a bit monotonous, but this isn't a return to that. I think IG is really where the band gels into a taut propulsive force, and this builds on that while also returning to a heavier sound.