Sleepwulf Premiere “Satan is King”; Announce Sunbeams Curl Preorders

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Swedish traditionalist heavy rockers Sleepwulf will release their second album, Sunbeams Curl, on Feb. 18 through Heavy Psych Sounds, along with a reissue of their early-2020 self-titled debut (review here). Basking in the glories of modernized doomly classics, the record lets the listener know immediately where the Kristianstad four-piece stand with “Satan is King” (premiering below), a hard-pounding catchy riff organic in tone rolling out as the backdrop for devilish paean, the standout lyric, “Come to realize life will begin when Satan is king,” serving as the first and top-priority-feeling of the album’s many hooks, soon enough joined by the stirring reminder that humans are terrible in the (comparatively) subtle environmental theme of “Green Man Dead” and the swinging-dangly-bits of “Sex Magic Manifestation,” the latter packing an entire LP’s worth of strut into 3:48 as the shortest inclusion here.

Shades of Pentagram via WitchcraftWitchcraft via PentagramSabbath via osmosis, Kadavar via Anton LaVey, and so on, should be readily familiar to anyone who carved the self-titled into their own foreheads — or, you know, just listened sleepwulf sunbeams curlto it; that’s fine too — but Sleepwulf‘s riffcraft distinguish them even among the next-generation of Scandinavian heavy originalists, acts like Demon Head or Dunbarrow, etc., and that’s more the case as Sunbeams Curl moves into the harsh judgment cast by “Stoned Ape” and the twisting groove of “Man Under the Mountain,” a preface to the fuzzy progressivism of “Tyrant Song” and the delightful proto-doom of “Toad Licker Mushroom Picker” and the bookending apocalyptic vibe of “Bury Me Backwards.” Their naturalism of tone and abiding commitment to a sound rooted in the heavy ’70s shouldn’t be taken as a dogwhistle for a lack of clarity, because Sleepwulf have no such issue. Rather, they’ve found a balance of production and style that lets the nuance behind the shove of “Green Man Dead” come through alongside the immediately familiar hook it brings, or the organ of “Stoned Ape” and the warmth of “Tyrant Song” to stand out from their surroundings.

A 37-minute run through sides A and B brings a succession of these moments, nuances or standout elements. It can be something as simple as the change in speed of delivery of the aforementioned line in “Satan is King” or the jazzy snare work that underlies “Bury Me Backwards,” but Sleepwulf don’t let an opportunity to make an impression on the listener pass them by, and as such, this follow-up to their well-received first offering should have no trouble igniting the same kind of excitement. Sunbeams Curl is not a revolution in style, but neither is it a hackneyed execution to genre. As they were last time out, the band are in the process of finding their place within their aesthetic, of crafting their individuality through their songwriting and delivery. They are further along that path in this material than they were even even last year, and through learning who they are as a group as they do here, they only make themselves a stronger and more commanding presence.

Preorders for Sunbeams Curl are up as of today. Info and link(s) follow the premiere of “Satan is King” below.

Please enjoy:

Sleepwulf, “Satan is King” track premiere

Preorders at: www.heavypsychsounds.com

From mountain peak to valley deep, SLEEPWULF’s new album SUNBEAMS CURL is a journey that is dripping with the seductive sounds of riff rock psychedelic proto doom.

Conjuring the sounds of bands such as Black Sabbath and Jethro Tull, Sleepwulf have summoned an album that oozes with fuzzy riffs, sordid tales and seductive occultism.

If the first album was about cycles, this one is about breaking them and its consequences. SUNBEAMS CURL delves further into the well of ancient mysticism, alchemy and the occult. The underlying thread connecting it all, is the power of words to manifest reality; in both the individual and the collective consciousness.

This extends to the album artwork, with hidden optics and codes. Deciphering these will reap their own rewards.

The album was recorded live in their own woodland studio outside Kristianstad, Sweden. To capture a live organic sound everything was done live onto an old tape machine.

This new album is both heavier and more dynamic, building upon every aspect of the last. This is an album with hidden secrets which will unravel in the not too distant future.

SLEEPWULF is:
Owen Robertson – Vocals
Sebastian Ihme – Guitar
Carl Lindberg – Drums
Viktor Sjöström – Bass

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Sleepwulf, Sleepwulf (2020)

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