Sunbather
by Deafheaven
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 417 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 368 out of 417
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 417
  3. Negative: 29 out of 417
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  1. All_ButTrU4
    Oct 11, 2021
    10
    Fantastic...i have no words. A phenomenal introduction to drone metal. Revitalizing metal with post rock shoegaze sensibilities emerges a record slowdiver would ge proud of.
  2. KristianLeahy
    Sep 7, 2021
    10
    "Dream House" is so perfect in its wild abstraction and informalism, plenty of colour and harmony, prelude of an album full of beauty and melancholy.
  3. bhabhafk
    Jul 26, 2021
    10
    Easily one of the best albums of the 2010s and a sign of more good things that were to come for this band. Melodic gorgeousness on just about every song. Sit back, close your eyes, and meditate on it. You won't regret it.
  4. BrennanH
    Jan 13, 2020
    10
    It’s hard to describe, so just listen to it and find yourself invested in it from start to finish
  5. Andremax
    Sep 11, 2018
    10
    Totally innovating and ethereal. Paradoxically mixing metal's aggressiveness with shoegaze's delicacy, resulting in a painful-shouting and gorgeous work. Idiots will gonna say that this kind of music kills rock/metal, opposite of it, lack of creativity does. And creativity Subnbather has to give and sell. Break your stupid prejudice and just listen to it. RIGHT NOW
  6. MARKNOBRT
    Dec 14, 2017
    7
    Critics don't understand metal... or music theory... and probably never played music... I really don't understand why they'd give this such a high score. They've just inflated a balloon with this record. The record is ok but does'nt deserve 92, maybe 70 at best. If you mix different styles altogether doesnt mean its good. Still, in that case its ok. But if you wanna put in a metal recordCritics don't understand metal... or music theory... and probably never played music... I really don't understand why they'd give this such a high score. They've just inflated a balloon with this record. The record is ok but does'nt deserve 92, maybe 70 at best. If you mix different styles altogether doesnt mean its good. Still, in that case its ok. But if you wanna put in a metal record in your list (just to prove you like all kinds of stuff), put in a good one at least. Just check out ANY Slipknot or Martyr (Canada) or the last Voivod album youll know what im talkin about.… Expand
  7. OAPboba
    Sep 27, 2017
    10
    Absolutely extraordinary. I have become obsessed with this album. It's a genuine work of genius in my opinion and I find myself endlessly thinking about it when I am not listening to it. While I understand it won't be for everyone for obvious reasons I think everyone should give a go at least once.
  8. LtXDonut
    Aug 21, 2017
    8
    Do I think this album is overrated? Yes. Do I think it's great? Also yes. As someone who's seasoned in metal and subgenres of metal, this album pleased me in many ways. "Purists" may lash out against it, but disregard that noise. It's sonically unique, almost symphonic at times. It flows well from beginning to end, and doesn't feel like it has any filler tracks. Sunbather is a great album.Do I think this album is overrated? Yes. Do I think it's great? Also yes. As someone who's seasoned in metal and subgenres of metal, this album pleased me in many ways. "Purists" may lash out against it, but disregard that noise. It's sonically unique, almost symphonic at times. It flows well from beginning to end, and doesn't feel like it has any filler tracks. Sunbather is a great album. Sometimes it drags a tad, but it really is a great listen and is worth giving a chance even if you aren't into metal.… Expand
  9. imnamine
    Dec 18, 2016
    10
    Complex, melodic, powerful. Deafheaven bring us a great album, a symphony, a piece. Even if you're not a fan of metal, or if you're a hardcore one, you'll like it. Before Sunbather, I've never listened to something like this. Ethereal.
  10. TopoG0c
    Sep 25, 2016
    10
    A lot of these reviews don't seem to have a grasp of a genre called "shoegaze". Stop trying to compare it to black metal and post rock. This is a heavy shoegaze (it's actually called "blackgaze") record plain and simple. If you are unfamiliar with bands like My Bloody Valentine, you will not understand this record. If you are into bands like MBV, and also don't get turned off by screamingA lot of these reviews don't seem to have a grasp of a genre called "shoegaze". Stop trying to compare it to black metal and post rock. This is a heavy shoegaze (it's actually called "blackgaze") record plain and simple. If you are unfamiliar with bands like My Bloody Valentine, you will not understand this record. If you are into bands like MBV, and also don't get turned off by screaming vocals, you'll probably like it.… Expand
  11. BrushedRed
    Jun 1, 2016
    10
    This is possibly the most polarizing album I've ever seen/heard. In my opinion, this album is an instant classic. I remember listening to this the day it came out and being in complete awe after it was over. I still feel the same way nearly 3 years later. The sad part is that it doesn't seem like 3 years since it came out. "The Pecan Tree" and "Sunbather" are particularly noteworthy.This is possibly the most polarizing album I've ever seen/heard. In my opinion, this album is an instant classic. I remember listening to this the day it came out and being in complete awe after it was over. I still feel the same way nearly 3 years later. The sad part is that it doesn't seem like 3 years since it came out. "The Pecan Tree" and "Sunbather" are particularly noteworthy.

    Sure it may take some inspirations from here and there, but ultimately it turns it into something new. Really and truly and album of this caliber only comes out once or twice a decade, and I'm so thankful for it. Overall, I think that the majority giving it bad reviews don't understand the music or haven't given it the time. It's both accessible and inaccessible at the same time. If you're not into this type of music, its quite hard to get into. If you have somewhat of a background in 90's screamo and a little metal, you'll fall in love. This album is one of my favorites in a long time. It's a trippy, trancy, hazy, heavy wonderland of an album. I can understand not digging it, but I think anyone passing it up because of the "hipster metal" description that this album has apparently developed is seriously closed-minded and missing out on one of this decade's best albums    … Expand
  12. ReubenIsAGod
    Sep 25, 2015
    9
    This really is a very unique album. Deafheaven , as a group, really do have a very distinct sound due to a very interesting blend between Black Metal, Post-Rock and Shoegaze making for a rather, for a lack of a better word to describe such a band, unique sound. Its easy to see why someone would classify them as a metal-core band, but to be honest the heavily dark lyrical content and heavyThis really is a very unique album. Deafheaven , as a group, really do have a very distinct sound due to a very interesting blend between Black Metal, Post-Rock and Shoegaze making for a rather, for a lack of a better word to describe such a band, unique sound. Its easy to see why someone would classify them as a metal-core band, but to be honest the heavily dark lyrical content and heavy use of guitars, and drum do give of a very black metal vibe, which makes this album the more confusing to describe, annoyingly. Hell I loved this record, it was absolutely fantastic, if somewhat mesmerizing due to the nature of the artists sound. id buy the **** out of this album if you want something different and unique.… Expand
  13. ORIGINATED
    Apr 28, 2015
    10
    What a mess. A beautiful mess. It’s hard to conceive the amount of work and dedication put in this record. Roads to Judah was a monster LP but I don’t think we’ll ever hear such an immense album any time soon. The album cover itself is incredible enough to make you want to dive into this 1 hour, yet 7 track masterpiece. I don't often use the word “flawless” because it doesn't make senseWhat a mess. A beautiful mess. It’s hard to conceive the amount of work and dedication put in this record. Roads to Judah was a monster LP but I don’t think we’ll ever hear such an immense album any time soon. The album cover itself is incredible enough to make you want to dive into this 1 hour, yet 7 track masterpiece. I don't often use the word “flawless” because it doesn't make sense but nothing else would fit for this case. It’s dark, painful, noisy, melodic and still very approachable by those who aren't used to metal. These unbelievably young architects have built a colossal and expansive monument to be remembered as, with zero doubt, the best album of 2013 and one of the best music albums of all time.

    Best track: Vertigo
    Exact score: 10    … Expand
  14. asjklasjklas
    Sep 22, 2014
    10
    Deafheaven have obviously created one of the most controversial records on Metacritic—which is saying a lot, considering it's not by an allegedly 'washed-up' metal band or some album in the top 40. However, Sunbather deserves to be talked about. A lot. Even today. It's magnificent record to take in, whether you end up on its side or on the opposite. It has us talking and that's all that'sDeafheaven have obviously created one of the most controversial records on Metacritic—which is saying a lot, considering it's not by an allegedly 'washed-up' metal band or some album in the top 40. However, Sunbather deserves to be talked about. A lot. Even today. It's magnificent record to take in, whether you end up on its side or on the opposite. It has us talking and that's all that's important—at least there's something there to discuss.

    Let's get one thing out of the way: Sunbather isn't the first album conceptual art metal album on the market and it's certainly not Deafheaven's first time experimenting with this kind of sound. Their EP Roads to Judah was when the group gave us a vision into what we'd see in the future, however, we didn't expect it to be Sunbather, something so groundbreaking and well-detailed in a genre that began to lose its shine. George Clarke's faint yet deep-and-drenched-in-emotion screams haunt on every track. ("I'm dying"/"Is is blissful?"/"It's like a dream"/"I want to dream") The opening 9-minute rock opera "Dream House" has a finale that'll raise the goosebumps on even the most conservative of music listeners.

    The shoegazing influences are ingrained throughout the album like a forest; "Please Remember" is easily one of the most surprisingly ambitious and climactic highlights on the record, with its spoken word dialogue—which you should Google the words to as soon as possible if you want even more goosebumps—and seemingly lost musical composition of backwards guitar loops and a piledriving mechanic-esque noise that eventually dissolve into another beautiful acoustic moment. You'll find a lot of unexpected twists and turns on this album, despite using the same formula throughout: loud, humming guitars, seemingly time signature-less drums, and Clarke's screams leading into melancholy instrumental moments and spoken word speeches.

    Sunbather isn't for everyone and it'll have haters by the numbers, whether it's from the metalheads who refuse to buy into the hype or your mother simply saying, "It's still just screaming to me, turn it off!" But when an album creates that much controversy and develops that much of an interest from music listeners everywhere, you know it's more than word-of-mouth that drew them in and caused a reaction. But for my own opinion, I'm gonna call Sunbather a masterpiece. If I wanted to hate on it to sound 'unique' or love it to sound, again, 'unique', I wouldn't go into so much—still minimal compared to much, much better reviews written here, both good and bad—detail trying to explain why it is in fact one of the greatest albums in recent years.    … Expand
  15. thedjentman408
    Aug 26, 2014
    10
    There is no album I've ever listened to that delivered on every level possible. It's not really metal but as a fan of bands like Russian Circles, I loved it! Musically, it's unmatched in atmosphere. The chords echo in your head for hours after you've finished the whole album. It's tragic, yet beautiful. The vocals, clawed, yet suitable to the feel of Sunbather. ALL these elements combinedThere is no album I've ever listened to that delivered on every level possible. It's not really metal but as a fan of bands like Russian Circles, I loved it! Musically, it's unmatched in atmosphere. The chords echo in your head for hours after you've finished the whole album. It's tragic, yet beautiful. The vocals, clawed, yet suitable to the feel of Sunbather. ALL these elements combined create the most atmospheric post-rock album in history. Sunbather is my pick, as well as many other critics' pick for album of 2013. Anyone who dismissed this album based on the "Hipster Metal" label was really missing out.… Expand
  16. Disk
    Jul 15, 2014
    8
    A great metal album, rock album, noise, progressive rock, whatever you want to call it. I like that it uses influences from many other sounds in the same family while making them seem coherent. Though some tracks steer too traditionally to it’s family members and even sounding similar to some of the tracks on the same album, this LP is a great listen for long time metal fans, and is evenA great metal album, rock album, noise, progressive rock, whatever you want to call it. I like that it uses influences from many other sounds in the same family while making them seem coherent. Though some tracks steer too traditionally to it’s family members and even sounding similar to some of the tracks on the same album, this LP is a great listen for long time metal fans, and is even accessible to those not as familiar to the genre.… Expand
  17. nlnjasith
    Jul 7, 2014
    10
    this album is great, every song is well recorded and all the ambient of the songs is just amazing.
    This album rocks! All the circle-jerking black metal elitists are jealous, your genre has been hijacked by Deafheaven.
  18. RobinHParker97
    Jun 2, 2014
    10
    This album is something else. When I thought I didn't like metal music, this started to ease me into it. Every main track has a melody to it and they all climb constantly, never slowing down or losing strength. And the interludes have this perfect and possessive quality that is almost like your in some drugged up movie scene. I honestly love this album. It is a lot of noise that is pushedThis album is something else. When I thought I didn't like metal music, this started to ease me into it. Every main track has a melody to it and they all climb constantly, never slowing down or losing strength. And the interludes have this perfect and possessive quality that is almost like your in some drugged up movie scene. I honestly love this album. It is a lot of noise that is pushed together and distorted into this trance like tune that seems to never end until the very last track of the album. A wild ride of strong melodies and screams that fit it so well, I seem to have fallen in love with it.… Expand
  19. TheDrownedGod
    Apr 9, 2014
    0
    Simply awful. Deafheaven do not seem to have grasped what makes post rock or black metal good. Instead, they have taken the absolute worst parts of both genres and combined them into something unlistenable. I love post rock and black metal. One for its beautiful guitar tones, soundscapes and general laid back feeling and the other for its ugly, raw energy. But what Deafheaven have done wasSimply awful. Deafheaven do not seem to have grasped what makes post rock or black metal good. Instead, they have taken the absolute worst parts of both genres and combined them into something unlistenable. I love post rock and black metal. One for its beautiful guitar tones, soundscapes and general laid back feeling and the other for its ugly, raw energy. But what Deafheaven have done was take the repetitive and monotone drums and vocals of black metal and the uninspired songwriting of bad post rock and made an album that is tedious, pretentious and, worst of all, boring. Anyone listening to this is either trying to prove that they are "trve black metal" fans or is deaf.… Expand
  20. burrito
    Apr 9, 2014
    9
    This album evades classification. To simply call it "black-metal" would be reductive, as this album utilizes shoegaze and post-rock sounds. Sunbather features complex, sophisticated song structures and oppressive guitars that the vocals struggle against. The vocals are very similar to those of Converge. In essence, this is a great album. Black metal may form the skeleton, but the album isThis album evades classification. To simply call it "black-metal" would be reductive, as this album utilizes shoegaze and post-rock sounds. Sunbather features complex, sophisticated song structures and oppressive guitars that the vocals struggle against. The vocals are very similar to those of Converge. In essence, this is a great album. Black metal may form the skeleton, but the album is fleshed out with a range of other genres making it a wildly experimental album.… Expand
  21. silasbodnick
    Mar 21, 2014
    9
    I'll never get tired of hearing subtle melodies overlapping the harsh black metal screams in this type of music. Death heaven is one of those bands ill be keeping an eye on.
  22. Zahhaus
    Feb 25, 2014
    10
    Never heard this band before until I saw Sunbather's metacritic score and it lit my interest. I've been listening to black metal, death metal etc for over 15 years so I've heard pretty much it all.. but Deafheaven was something different.. It was a crossover between Darkthrone and Oasis, which both I liked very much.. well, Darkthrone not so much but still.. Since the first song ofNever heard this band before until I saw Sunbather's metacritic score and it lit my interest. I've been listening to black metal, death metal etc for over 15 years so I've heard pretty much it all.. but Deafheaven was something different.. It was a crossover between Darkthrone and Oasis, which both I liked very much.. well, Darkthrone not so much but still.. Since the first song of Sunbather started to play, I was sold.. It just was so great and all those great reviews are earned.… Expand
  23. TheStoebZ
    Feb 19, 2014
    10
    Wonderful album. Meant to be taken as a whole. Vocals are great and it's a great listen all the way through. Along with The Mire, my favorite metal album of 2013 onward. People hating on Sunbather probably don't understand the concept or sound of the album.

    Hate on, while we listen with glee.
  24. TheMaximalist
    Feb 15, 2014
    3
    http://bit.ly/1jDqoeq For me this is just unnecessary noise. Though other critics don't share that opinion. I'm hesitant to give it any score at all but I'm going to. While it was interesting I didn't like it. I found the experience mostly unpleasant and poorly arranged although it was performed fine.
  25. mattballj10
    Feb 3, 2014
    8
    Although this strays away from the traditional grunge of death metal, it is an interesting blend that certainly deserves praise. The instruments sound like a mix between Explosions In The Sky and speed metal. I would have to disagree for making this album of the year. Overall, it is a strong effort.
  26. Burns148
    Jan 30, 2014
    10
    Just because you are not a fan of a genre does not mean the album isn't good. These 0's that this album is getting are ridiculous. This is one of the best albums of 2013. It is a beautiful mix between post-rock and black metal. I seriously suggest people that cant get past the screaming vocals try to look past them and hear the music that is already washing out the vocals anyways.
  27. thegodfigure
    Jan 19, 2014
    6
    This warrants a positive score for uniqueness alone. Sounds like a blend of Black Metal and This Will Destroy You. Overall, uniqueness aside... the album is a bit monotonous in my opinion. Worth a listen.
  28. Juosan
    Jan 4, 2014
    10
    Black metal. The only difference, it is ARMONIC Black Metal, and that is joyfull to hear. Deafheaven just means future and a new way of looking music for every single genre
  29. Wikito
    Jan 3, 2014
    10
    It's a deep experience listening to this music. Instead of thinking about genres if this is black-metal, post-rock or whatever, you'd better to feel so intense experience about dark and light, about music always rebuilding, about screams that really sound in a lot of moods.

    Music to listen out of prejudices. Maybe it's a real new path to run for old genres.
  30. XavierBlaq
    Dec 29, 2013
    9
    As the other reviews, and my own personal experience, infer, Sunbather is an impossible album to classify as one specific kind of music. Though the screamed vocal and pounding guitars suggest their earlier black metal, the slowed down moments of the album are clearly more attuned to post-rock like Tortoise, and the wall-of-sound feel of a majority of the album suggests shoegazing in theAs the other reviews, and my own personal experience, infer, Sunbather is an impossible album to classify as one specific kind of music. Though the screamed vocal and pounding guitars suggest their earlier black metal, the slowed down moments of the album are clearly more attuned to post-rock like Tortoise, and the wall-of-sound feel of a majority of the album suggests shoegazing in the vein of My Bloody Valentine. However, one thing that is certain is that this album is one of the most unique and emotionally intense (almost too much so) additions to metal ever, and is hopefully the sign of a new movement in metal music to bring to a new level of art (since, in my opinion, most metal now barely qualifies as music, much less art). If I was to describe this album to someone interested, the only comparison I could possibly think of is that it like Explosions in the Sky if they released a heavy metal album.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Album of 2013
17
#17 Most Discussed Album of 2013
33
#33 Most Shared Album of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. musicOMH.com
    Dec 2, 2013
    90
    Sunbather is an emotionally overwhelming but truly absorbing listen. But best of all, it’s cleansing.
    Read full review
  2. Rolling Stone
    Aug 12, 2013
    60
    The mood stays ominous, even as sonic details thrill headphone-equipped headbangers.
    Read full review
  3. AllMusic
    Jul 3, 2013
    90
    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.
    Read full review
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