2013 wasn’t that long ago, was it? Yet it seems that Deafheaven’s opus, Sunbather, didn’t need long to become enough of a genre classic to inspire countless groups in pursuit of a paradoxically harsh yet dreamy musical experience. It was more than likely the inspiration for the name Sundrowned, a relatively new post-black band from Haugesund, Norway. Their debut album, Become Ethereal, didn’t make much of an impression on El Cuervo in 2021 and now it’s my turn for some solar exposure in the form of Higanbana. Has Sundrowned set out with a life preserver this time or is this another cautionary tale about the hidden hazards of Sunbathing?
As it turns out, Sundrowned sounds more like a distant relative of Sunbather rather than a direct heir. While there is a faint resemblance to Deafheaven’s softer side, most of the aggression has been watered down or stripped out completely. Though billed as post-black, what remains is post-metal of the sparkly variety like unto Asthénie. The hazy shoegaze of Become Ethereal still appears in the form of distorted walls of sound during the heavier parts. The increased emphasis on post-metal is a good thing for Higanbana, giving it a more defined shape and structure which suits the deep, growling vocal style better than the meandering, gazey Become Ethereal.
Yet, despite marginal improvements, many of Sundrowned’s prior deficiencies persist into Higanbana. For the most part, they have not fixed the problem of aimlessly drifting to and fro. “Ilex” is the exception to this, with a buildup that feels smooth and purposeful thanks in large part to G.L. Innocent’s dynamic drum performance. Furthermore, post-metal and shoegaze are genres that live or die by their emotional resonance, and Higanbana falls short in this crucial area. Though the instrumentation is highly pleasant, it doesn’t compensate for the vocals. The passionless growls feel almost obligatory, as if only there to prove Sundrowned’s metal pedigree. Admittedly, at times Higanbana has been a soothing balm to my mind after work. Nevertheless, it’s essentially the sonic equivalent of Jell-O—sweet but not substantial or filling.
Also like Jell-O, it’s mostly homogeneous. Whether you like the first track, “Barren,” is a good indicator of whether you should continue consuming, as the menu doesn’t change much. With the exception of the aforementioned “Ilex,” I still cannot differentiate between the songs without checking. The vocals are the biggest culprit, with very little variance in pitch or intensity in the croaking delivery. As for the compositions, the chunkier bits are the least enticing or memorable (again, as with Jell-O). Where Sundrowned shines is in the serene sections, but these tend to be interrupted, seemingly at random, by fuzzy walls of sound that come out of nowhere (“Wisteria,” “Barren”). Another way to think of Higanbana is the jellyfish scene from Finding Nemo—the surroundings are captivating at first but make it nigh impossible to orient oneself.
Try as I might, I can’t see how Higanbana was designed to be anything but background music. Nearly everything about it seems intent to reward passive listens and punish attentive ones. Though it is a marked improvement from the debut, it will likely only work for those looking for a relaxing audio adornment. Higanbana probably would have fared better with more songs in the vein of “Ilex.” As things stand, Sundrowned is not the spiritual successor to the legendary Sunbather that I was hoping for.
Rating: 2.0/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Fysisk Format
Websites: sundrownedband.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/SundrownedBand
Releases Worldwide: September 26th, 2025
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