Deafheaven is a band that undeniably captivates audiences with their exhilarating sound. Known for their ferocity and uniqueness, they have sparked both passion and debate among fans and metal aficionados alike. Since their inception in 2010 by vocalist George Clarke and guitarist Kerry McCoy, they have carved out a distinctive niche within the music landscape, blending post-rock, crust-punk, shoegaze, alternative, goth, death, and black metal to create a sonic phenomenon dubbed “blackgaze.”Many critics regard them as one of the finest metal bands of the past two decades.
Though they were not the pioneers of this genre fusion, Deafheaven has emerged as the most critically acclaimed of the recent American black metal wave. Their landmark album, Sunbather, released in 2013, was met with rave reviews, earning an 8.9 rating from Pitchfork and being designated as Best New Music. Esteemed platforms such as NPR, Spin, and The Daily Beast featured it on their year-end lists, solidifying its status as one of the year’s best.
This newfound acclaim took Deafheaven to unprecedented heights while simultaneously alienating some long-time black metal purists. Vocalist George Clarke commands attention not only for his voice but also for his striking stage presence, humorously noted by Two Minutes to Late Night’s Gwarsenio Hall, who remarked that the band “look like they could fix your laptop.” This playful critique underscores the mixed reception some metal fans have towards their image.
On March 28, 2025, Deafheaven unveiled their sixth studio album, Lonely People With Power, prompting us to assess its place within their evolving discography. For this evaluation, we focus exclusively on their studio albums, excluding EPs while recognizing the value of their debut demo from 2010.
|
Album Title |
Release Year |
|---|---|
|
Roads to Judah |
2011 |
|
Sunbather |
2013 |
|
New Bermuda |
2015 |
|
Ordinary Corrupt Human Love |
2018 |
|
Infinite Granite |
2021 |
|
Lonely People With Power |
2025 |
6 Infinite Granite (2021)
“I know what this costs us, I know it’s exhausting you,”‘The Gnashing’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXTBQQU191Y
While Infinite Granite is not an unpleasant album, it arguably deviates from what one might expect from a Deafheaven introduction. The absence of blast beats and soaring guitars marked a significant departure from their typical sound. Clean and pristine vocals dominate, presenting a spacious atmosphere that’s more reminiscent of Echo and the Bunnyman’s post-punk rather than the heavy, layered intensity of earlier works.
Despite this softer approach, remnants of their black metal roots occasionally break through. Songs like “Villain” feature Clarke’s signature growl, only for the music to transition back to its more streamlined presentation. Music journalist Michael Nelson noted that the album’s finale, “Mombasa,” emerges with “pure fury,”although it dissipates quickly, refraining from a full-on sonic downpour.
Such an approach may seem unconventional for a black metal band, yet modern interpretations of the genre often embrace experimentation. Influences from artists as diverse as The Cure and various genres inform this album, situating it within a trilogy arc that will further develop in future installments.
5 Roads To Judah (2011)
“Come to life / Walk the roads to Judah,”‘Language Games’
Following the momentum built from their demo, Deafheaven assembled a lineup to produce their debut album, Roads to Judah. Featuring members like guitarist Nick Bassett, drummer Trevor Deschryver, and bassist Derek Prine, the album established a promising start for the band, though it may feel less polished compared to their subsequent works.
Producer Jack Shirley remarked that recording the album presented significant challenges: “More editing had to get done on that record than any of the others… I feel like we probably should have worked on that a little longer.”This introspection would pave the way for the evolution showcased in their later catalog, particularly with the success of Sunbather.
4 New Bermuda (2015)
“Tricked into some fodder about this oasis,” ‘Luna’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c-R2W5C4E0
After the monumental success of Sunbather, Deafheaven faced the daunting task of producing a worthy follow-up. The resulting album, New Bermuda, veered towards a more traditional black metal sound, with a greater emphasis on raw intensity rather than the atmospheric layering of its predecessor. Opening with “Brought to the Water,”it sets a darker tone that mirrors the band’s struggles with fame and personal challenges.
3 Ordinary Corrupt Human Love (2018)
“I’m reluctant to stay sad. Life beyond is a field, a field of flowers,” ‘Honeycomb’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5eQuhBfDE0
As the band’s lineup solidified with the addition of Daniel Tracy on drums and Shiv Mehra handling guitars and keys, Deafheaven’s sound matured further with the release of Ordinary Corrupt Human Love. This pivotal album showcased a transition into a lighter, more melodic territory, incorporating elements of alternative rock alongside the familiar blackgaze.
Clarke credited a renewed creative energy to their collaborative approach: “We remembered what it was we loved about Deafheaven in the first place,”he reflected, highlighting the album’s diverse sonic landscapes which emerged from a place of camaraderie.
2 Lonely People With Power (2025)
“I ate from the apple of my ruse, and stared into the mirror of my truth,” ‘Doberman’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h_WVPSoMwU
The release of Lonely People With Power stands as a testament to Deafheaven’s artistic growth and balance among their contrasting elements. The album revisits elements from previous works, merging the clean vocals of Infinite Granite with the raw power found in New Bermuda. Special guest appearances further enrich the auditory experience, affirming the band’s intention to evolve while maintaining coherence.
Lead single “Magnolia”delivers a powerful exploration of personal loss, grappling with themes of modern masculinity. Clarke’s lyrics reflect deep introspection, addressing struggles and relationships in the landscape of contemporary life.
When analyzing Deafheaven’s body of work as a trilogy, this latest offering concludes the narrative begun in Roads to Judah, progressing through Sunbather, and maturing further with Ordinary Corrupt Human Love. Lonely People With Power embodies the harmony of their various influences, and while it is still too early to declare it their definitive opus, it certainly stands as a worthy addition to their discography.
1 Sunbather (2013)
“My heart flourishes at each passing moment / Always and forever,” ‘Sunbather’
Perfection may hinder creativity, and by that standard, Sunbather may not be flawless, but it comes remarkably close. The album grabs the listener from the start. The soaring “Dream House”envelops you in a whirlwind of sound that sets the tone for what’s to come. Its intensity is matched by subsequent tracks that continue to build upon the emotional and musical peaks.
Deafheaven employs lyrics that diverge from typical black metal themes, addressing societal issues such as economic disparity and personal family dynamics. Clarke’s growling vocals may initially seem indecipherable, but once the lyrics are unearthed, they resonate powerfully with aspects of the human experience.
The enduring legacy of Sunbather remains to be seen in light of the band’s future endeavors. Nevertheless, it currently shines brightly as their flagship work.