Release
date: April
20th
2018.
Label: Third
Man Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
The
Sciences
– Tracklisting
1.
The Sciences (3:03)
2.
Marijuanaut's Theme (6:39)
3.
Sonic Titan (12:26)
4.
Antarcticans Thawed (14:23)
5.
Giza Butler (10:02)
6.
The Botanist (6:27)
Members
Al
Cisneros – vocals, bass
Matt
Pike – guitar
Jason
Roeder – drums
Review
Only
SLEEP could have released their new album on 4/20. What made it more
legendary is what the album was released immediately without any
massive promotional campaign of any kind. For a band of SLEEP’s
structure you expect a major announcement. Nope. Not with SLEEP. The
global Weedian/Stoner Metal community was taken by major surprise
that the album would be released straight away via DD/CD and Limited
Edition Vinyls.
People
have been expecting this album for a very long time to come. Ever
since Sleep reformed almost a decade ago when they started playing
regular gigs and tours. That anticipation reached fever pitch with
the release of The Clarity back in 2014. We saw snippets of
information being published on their media pages in the middle of
last year. We hope that we weren’t expecting a TOOL style epic (and
boring) on-going musical – will they/won’t they musical saga.
Nope.
The new album was officially released 4/20. So here we are with –
THE SCIENCES. Their first proper new studio album in twenty years.
All I can say is that The Sciences is First and foremost, definitely
a SLEEP album. All of their trademark sounds are there. Huge sounding
Doom/Stoner riffs inspired by Black Sabbath and the Spaced Out
Weedian Culture.
The
album opens with – The Sciences – a Doom/Stoner Metal odyssey
with hints of distorted sludge based noises. This is a very cool song
to open the album with. As the anticipation of the familiar sound
reaches fever pitch. The constant on-going riff reminds me of the
opening from Dopesmoker. SLEEP start to add a subtle psychedelic
groove.
The
Sciences opens soon moves onto the trademark riffs of SLEEP and they
are at the top of the game. Matt Pike, Al Cisneros and Jason Roeder
are on inspired form. This is most definitely a team effort. The
whole album at times feels like it was influenced by what has come
before it. Especially with the other bands that the members are part
of. Yes, Even Neurosis as well. With Jason’s hard-hitting and
intelligent drumming.
You
can expect to hear OM style drone/stoner rhythms on songs such as
Marijuanaut's Theme, Sonic Titan and Antarticans Thawed. The heaviest
parts of the album perhaps come from Matt Pike’s guitars and mostly
with his work from High On Fire. That’s to be expected. As both OM
and High On Fire originally came from SLEEP.
I
know that Sonic Titan and Antarticans Thawed are not exactly new
songs. However they haven’t been heard like this before. Properly
recorded and fully realised into a more spiritual experience. You
know what to expect with SLEEP. They are perhaps one of the finest
Stoner Metal bands currently out there.
The
vocals from Al are superb throughout. This is perhaps the best he’s
sounded in a very long time. The Sciences contains some of the best
lyrics that SLEEP has ever committed to record. Trippy, psychedelic
and all within the realm of Weedian spaced out culture.
The
best songs on the album have to be Giza Butler and The Botanist. This
is where SLEEP embrace a more reflective and psychedelic feeling.
The Botanist is purely instrumental and it’s good to hear SLEEP
concentrating more on progressive melodies than lyrical content.
The
Sciences is superbly produced. I’ve heard some people complaining
that it feels a little too rushed at times. Maybe I’m listening to
a different album. The production is fantastic. As you can feel every
riff, note and sound being played at maximum levels.
The
Sciences sees SLEEP back at their most legendary best. We may never
see another album released from SLEEP. And truth be told I’m fine
with that. I don’t know if SLEEP could top this epic release. I
thought it would be impossible to top Dopesmoker. However, SLEEP have
managed to do just that with The Sciences. As SLEEP have delivered
their best album to date.
The
Sciences is simply a must have album.
Words
by Steve Howe
You can buy The Sciences from Third Man Records on CD/DD/Vinyl now.
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