Release Date: September 19th 2025. Record Label: Season Of Mist. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Songs To Sun - Tracklisting
1. New Dawn (8:53)
2. Shadowland (4:38)
3. Lost in the Rain (7:49)
4. Low (4:09)
5. See You on the Road (5:45)
6. Quicksand (9:52)
Members
Igor Sydorenko - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Andrew Rodin - Bass, Backing Vocals
Yurii Ciel - Drums, Backing Vocals
Review.
Stoned Jesus creates a highly melodic blend of Psych, Doom, Stoner Rock, Prog Rock and Grunge on their new album Songs To Sun. The whole album sees Stoned Jesus travel across the whole Heavy Metal landscape where they re-invent and redefine their whole musical legacy with music that’s uplifting, bleak and superbly powerful.
The record does feel like it’s been shaped by the real life events the band have gone through over the last few years or perhaps even longer. There is a sense of real struggle appearing within the lyrics especially within the closing moments. However, there’s a level of uplifting optimism which sees lead vocalist and creative mastermind Igor Sydorenko adapting his musical persona and performance to one of Post-Rock and Post-Metal surroundings.
There are flashes of Post-Grunge attitude influenced by Alice In Chains on the excellent opening track New Dawn. The song is cautiously slow with Stoned Jesus biding their time to unleash a torrent of heavy Stoner Rock/Metal melodies which they achieve through determined grit with a sense of human warmth and emotion. Stoned Jesus keeps up with that level of Progressive storytelling within the sublime second track Shadowland which has a gritty slow-to-mid pace with classic Grunge guitars being quite daring especially when the song moves into areas of Prog Rock and Psych Rock sensibilities.
With an eerie level of Ambient Rock developing and slight orchestral movements, Stoned Jesus are absolutely on fire with the stunning backing vocals of Andrew Rodin and Yurii Ciel appearing at the most correct time that allows Songs To Sun become quite experimental. With a haunting Folk presence emerging from the stunning third track Lost In The Rain which has some heavy “OPETH” vibes whilst keeping within Stoned Jesus’s epic Post-Doom creative charge. Heavy instrumental passages and subtle Folk Rock energy pushes the record into the world of Orchestral Rock with a superb “LESS IS MORE” approach that brings another level of bleak heartbreak to the album.
The fourth track Low is full on Doom/Stoner Metal that is boosted by an epic Prog Metal style dictating the whole action which should make MASTODON fans quite happy indeed. The technical beats from Igor, Andrew and Yurii are outstanding with some of the heaviest and catchiest moments appearing on this song alone. This feels like STONED JESUS of yesteryear and the whole record becomes more rewarding and fulfilling for that alone.
The final two songs of See You On The Road and Quicksand are full of Doom/Stoner Metal madness with mighty throwbacks to the era of Nineties Grunge/Stoner Rock scene with Stoned Jesus still allowing themselves the time and freedom to experiment and play with their overall sound.
Igor’s vocals remind me of Trent Reznor in his prime with a sense of maturity that makes you feel every pounding note being projected at you from all directions. The instrumental passages are heavy, thrilling and sometimes brilliantly unique with Songs To Sun proving why Stoned To Jesus can easily be considered “LEGENDS” of the whole Stoner Rock/Metal movement.
This is an outstanding record from a band who are simply at THE TOP OF THEIR GAME and who deserve all the plaudits fully coming their way.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Season Of Mist for the promo.
Songs To Sun is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Season Of Mist.
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