Release Date: November 07th 2025. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Eternal Sunrise - Tracklisting
1.Sacred Heart 07:33
2.A Hundred And Sixteen 08:06
3.Anywhere But Here 04:53
4.Sleep The Day Away 06:25
5.Abandoned Lands 05:29
6.Cremation Sunlight 08:28
Members
Guitars: Gary Arce
Bass and vocals: Pia Isaksen
Drums: Robert Garson
Review
Shoegaze/Desert Rock/Psych Rockers SOFTSUN return with their sophomore album Eternal Sunrise which comes almost exactly a year after their critically acclaimed debut album Daylight In The Dark. This is the band formed by Pia Isaksen (PIA ISA, Superlynx) and Gary Arce (Yawning Man, Fatso Jetson, Big Scenic Nowhere). This time round they’re joined by Robert Garson on drums for a record that continues their Psychedelic, Ambient and Trippy journey into the legendary sounds of the Desert.
With a more emotionally charged Shoegaze element at its central core with Pia’s exquisite vocals leading the way. There are elements of Yawning Man and Superlynx that you can hear everywhere with the legendary sounds of the Californian Desert merged with the emotionally charged Post-Rock and gloomy sounds of the Norwegian scene which appeared on their debut album.
The record is quite reflective with intense lyrics allowing SOFTSUN to perfectly capture that Gloom & Doom sound with a sudden shift in slowly played Shoegaze melodies with a haunting Progressive charge that never feels rushed or aggressively delivered. The opening tracks of Sacred Heart, A Hundred And Sixteen and Anywhere But Here offer twenty minutes of superbly captured movements of Shoegaze with a lingering sense of adventure with the music slowly transforming into beautiful areas of Dream Pop surroundings.
SOFTSUN can be quite heavy and beautifully dynamic whenever the mood calls for it with screeching doomed out guitars and epic cinematic drumming that leads into classic strands of YAWNING MAN based Desert Rock. Though, Pia’s vocals keep everything real with an affectionate and highly involving vocal performance that has moments of classic Nineties Alt-Rock attitude throughout.
Eternal Sunrise is equally uplifting and deceptively bleak with moody sonic passages forming with a surreal Dreamlike and ethereal quality. There’s some Post-Punk dynamics heard within the later stages of the record but merged with the surreal charm of the Desert Rock landscape with SOFTSUN never afraid to experiment with their overall sound on tracks such as Sleep The Day Away and Cremation Sunlight.
There are a lot of overlapping Ambient, Sonic and Psychedelic creative themes which gives Eternal Sunrise a different sound and energy compared to their debut album. I called that album “a truly majestic work of art” last year. However, this is an even better album with SOFTSUN delving into more aggressive and bolder areas of music whilst still remaining superbly close to that superb record.
Eternal Sunrise is an outstanding example of merging different sounds into a highly captivating style of music that leaves you in a euphoric and truly uplifting state of mind. There are not many albums that you can describe as absolutely gorgeous but you can apply to this incredible record.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.
Eternal Sunrise is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.
Links
Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram
