Critically-acclaimed second studio album from Bay Area metal alchemists Deafheaven. The recording of Sunbather marked the assimilation of drummer Dan Tracy to the fold, with George Clarke and Kerry McCoy previously operating as a duo. Sunbather expanded on the group's dynamic 2011 debut and doubled down on the wall-of-sound arrangements heavily influenced by shoegaze, juxtaposed with opaque screaming, breakdowns and overall song structures typically found on black metal recordings. Add expansive elements of drone and post-rock to the cauldron, and pepper in some creative sampling and field recordings and you have one of the most inventive "metal" records of the decade. Pressed on double vinyl ("piss yellow" and "baby pink" colored, respectively) and housed in die-cut sleeve with fold-out insert and code for free digital download.

• 'baby pink' + 'piss yellow' colored vinyl
• die-cut sleeve
• fold-out printed insert
• digital download included
• music label: Deathwish Inc 2013

reviewed by Kurupt FM Intern 05/2017