Cloud Castles
Apollon, 2025
9/10
The Olso rockers Sunface return with a sophomore album 8 years after their debut, and it’s a hard hitting but also atmospheric take on psyche-rock that’s ritualistic in its own way.
The riff filled title track starts the listen with dense grooves and meticulous drumming, and “New Natures” follows with a hint of mystery before thick guitar and a buzzing melody unfold.
“Second Voyage” lands in the middle and is a tribal influenced and distorted blend of harmonics, while “Thunder Era” is percussively detailed, where cultured ideas invade the stoner rock sensibilities.
Close to the end, “Green Fields And Familiar Faces” comes with poetic singing and intricate guitar lines, and “…Through The Snow And Beyond” exits with a strategic dissonance that’s mesmerizing.
A triumphant return for a band who mesh alt, punk and metal in very unique ways, the djembe, congas and tabla add another dimension to their hard hitting yet ambient ways.
Travels well with: Yobrepus- A Rhizome Revolution Part 1; The Dredge- Torches