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The Sciences
by
The Sciences Image
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

  • Summary: The fourth full-length surprise release for the Northern California stoner metal band is its first new album in nearly two decades.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Jul 6, 2018
    90
    The Sciences proves that Sleep has got the goods and no manner of years could pull the magic from the Pike-Cisneros connection. And more importantly than that, Sleep, when merely focusing on being Sleep instead of a being collection of influences, is able to produce work that is uniquely them, uniquely fresh, and frankly, inimitable.
  2. Exclaim
    Apr 24, 2018
    90
    Simply put, cannabis is the medium through which this album should be listened to; otherwise, its greatness will never be revealed to the non-believers. ... When sober, 14 minutes for a song is a little long; stoned, it's not long enough.
  3. Pitchfork
    Apr 26, 2018
    84
    It’s substantive enough to warrant its extended genesis and boost Sleep’s legacy, not just reaffirm it.
  4. Spin
    Apr 24, 2018
    80
    For the most part, they don’t disappoint.
  5. Rolling Stone
    May 30, 2018
    80
    With freight-train heavy riffs so indebted to Sabbath's Tony Iommi that he should get royalties, trippy lyrics about diverse subjects such as weed, ganja and pot, and endless groove for days on each of their songs, they've made an album that sounds exactly how Sleep should sound in 2018.
  6. Mojo
    May 21, 2018
    80
    [Sleep] have customarily not rushed into nailing The Sciences, nor departed from their rubric of burroughsian ganja mythspinning, set to eardrum-busting, down-tuned slo-mo jams. [Jul 2018, p.88]
  7. The Wire
    Jul 26, 2018
    70
    Peeled back from its surrounding hype, The Sciences is a sturdy (albeit somewhat stationary) return to form. [Aug 2018, p.59]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Trystan1297
    Oct 27, 2021
    10
    A doom metal masterpiece! Not a second wasted... So many unforgettable riffs topped off with Matt Pike's insane guitar tone. Highly recommended.
  2. Gabriel_Gannon
    May 3, 2018
    9
    Iv'e never been a huge fan of stoner metal, but the album may have won me over. With great instrumentals over the long run time on each songIv'e never been a huge fan of stoner metal, but the album may have won me over. With great instrumentals over the long run time on each song are amazingly well crafted that the 12-14 minute long songs don't feel like they drag on. Even with the long run time on some of the songs it still left me wanting more.… Expand
  4. Jmoney1970
    Jun 21, 2018
    9
    Instead of crapping out a disc of rehashed old songs or not quite good enough old ideas, Sleep have elected to create an epic disc that standsInstead of crapping out a disc of rehashed old songs or not quite good enough old ideas, Sleep have elected to create an epic disc that stands tall alongside the rest of their catalogue. Al Cisneros weaves serpentine and melodic bass-lines through each song to anchor the crushing riffs of Matt Pike's guitar to the pummeling drums of Jason Roeder and his own half-chanted vocals. These are less songs than they are incantations and rituals (rifftuals) honoring the gods of the Almighty Bud. Not content with resting on their laurels and coasting on the legend of Sleep, they have elected to move forward and have matched the quality of their previous output on Holy Mountain and Dopesmoker. To my ear there are no bad or weak songs on this disc.… Expand
  5. Doof
    Jun 5, 2018
    8
    Solid. I'm always impressed when an old band return after a long hiatus and knock it out of the park with their comeback. Equally as good asSolid. I'm always impressed when an old band return after a long hiatus and knock it out of the park with their comeback. Equally as good as their previous output. Push me at gunpoint - maybe even BETTER than most of their previous output.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Best Album of 2018

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