Making music that sounds ‘new’ in the world of doom and stoner rock is pretty tough: it comes with the territory of being a direct descendant of Black Sabbath, I theorize. Making something that’s both new and excellent is even harder — and yet, Slumbering Sun has done it, again. Only two years after their independent debut The Ever-living Fire stealthily released as one of the best records of 2023, the Austin, Texas group is back with a sophomore album that transcends the original’s mix of melodic doom and grunge through sheer audacity. Starmony continues the band’s tradition of merging classic doom metal with damn near everything else, but it also reinforces their incredible knack for songwriting. There isn’t just one riff or one passage that stands out on Starmony – from the moment the opening track “Together Forever” kicks off all the way through the end of the record, the Texans’ ability to take risks and stun the listeners is what’s the most impressive. We’re premiering that opening track now — take a listen.
…
…
Built from a burly core of vocal-driven stoner rock, “Together Forever” launches the record with a burst of infectious energy. The midsection, which pulls back to a jazzy, relaxed texture, adds in some rock organ for accompaniment — and then the jam is back on, with lead vocalist James Clarke leading the charge. “Let’s go!,” he screams, and who can resist?
Melodic hooks and catchy riffs are just the starting point for what else lays in wait on Starmony – while always rooting itself in the fundamental sound and energy of doom metal, Slumbering Sun’s next record paints an orange-hued vision of the genre’s past and present: novel, yet nostalgic.
…
Starmony releases May 9th, 2025 and is available for pre-order via Bandcamp.
