Release Date: October 10th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Sunbreather - Tracklisting
Foreglow
Apricity
Sunbreather
WINE
Reverie
Sleep
Aubade
Members
Emma - Vocals/Guitar
Chris - Drums
George - Bass
Review
Psych Stoner Metallers Sunbreather release their self-titled debut album where the band show a real dynamic creative flair as they move through Ambient textures and Doomed Out passages. Taking cues from the likes of SLEEP, Elephant Tree, Acid King and EARTH with Sunbreather forging their own sound within the Stoner Metal world. The album is highly organic which is built around lead vocalist Emma’s gutsy and ethereal vocals. There is a sense of roots driven Psychedelics where you can easily see the SLEEP and EARTH influences shining through on the epic second track Apricity.
Before that, the album opens up with Foreglow which is a lush two minute instrumental song with a Post-Rock and Post-Doom sound that develops and one that opts for a heavier focus within the other tracks on the album.
The album really kicks off with one of the standout tracks of Apricity which shows you the real power of Sunbreather with long drawn instrumental jams and a pulsating rhythm section formed by Chris (Drums) and George (Bass). The song runs for almost eleven minutes in length and Sunbreather traverses the whole Psychedelic landscape of Doom/Stoner Metal with a song broken down into musical chapters. Some parts HEAVY and some superbly quiet moments that add an emotional Post-Rock score into the mix. Expect the unexpected with this track and you’ll be richly rewarded with some fine storytelling being added along the way.
Before the excellent title track appears, you see a sense of Spiritualism appearing that reminds me of EARTH and OM in so many ways. It’s not preachy at all but is a winning level of realism that becomes part of the overall journey that Sunbreather takes you upon. The track itself follows a similar path to Apricity but with a more classic Stoner Rock/Metal structure with flashes of Grunge and Stonergaze adding a Garage Rock sound which is perhaps mostly down to the stripped back production values of the album.
Emma’s vocals have a hopeful and earnest delivery to them that are most definitely part of the Nineties Alt-Rock scene but the music is dominated by a modern day aggressive Stoner based momentum. As with the previous track, this song also feels broken down into individual chapters though this time round it’s boosted by pure levels of heavy melodic aggression.
Fourth track WINE is a warped assault on the senses with Sunbreather adding layers of Blues Rock and FUZZ for a track that feels like it’s suffering from an identity crisis but in a good way. As the band deconstructs their happy going sound for one that’s powered along by elements of Punk and Grunge. There is something surreal and outlandish with this track as Sunbreather rely on freaksish soundscapes and wicked sounding solos for one of the strangest and hippest tracks on the album.
Fifth track Reverie is another Post-Rock instrumental track which shows another mellow and caring side to Sunbreather. The song is perhaps more JAZZ based but it’s tranquil Blues/Post-Rock theme make it a journey worth taking.
Sixth track Sleep sees Sunbreather move into areas of Grunge, Shoegaze, Drone and Post-Rock for a sound that’s quite mysterious but with flashes of ALICE IN CHAINS lyrical storytelling matched against the Drone Rock surroundings of EARTH. Another standout track on the album which is absolutely magical from beginning to end.
The final track Aubade continues with that DRONE based trajectory but it’s dominated by an epic Doom/Stoner Metal score which allows Emma, Chris and George to impress with their technical and musical abilities one last time. The song once again has that minimal and stripped back essence that makes Sunbreather such a refreshing change of pace to listen to. The album ends triumphantly allowing Sunbreather the perfect chance to introduce themselves to the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene with a record of outstanding quality from beginning to end.
WOW!!!
Words by Steve Howe
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