Stoned Jesus Post “Shadowland” Video; Fall Tours Announced
Hard to argue with “Shadowland” as the first single from the upcoming Stoned Jesus album, Songs to Sun. Set to release on Sept. 19 through Season of Mist as the beginning of a trilogy cycle, the album covers a range of sounds and ideas, but “Shadowland” encapsulates what kind of becomes a theme in the material in its engagement with metal. The lesson here is that the new lineup of Stoned Jesus can hit really hard when they want to. “Shadowland” starts out with a slinger of a riff, ba-dum-dum da-da-dum, and lumbering, but by the end, they’ve sharpened the point and are blasting away with what would be extreme metal purposes if they didn’t stay so loyal to the melody.
This isn’t as deep into aggression as they go, and the story of Songs to Sun is not — I emphasize, not — that Stoned Jesus have gone metal, but it’s a part of the pastiche they offer and “Shadowland” also represents the LP suitably in being catchy as hell, with a chorus that careens in a way that feels like born of Katatonia but is executed with more life, and a build toward the finish that highlights just how tight this band is at this point, as well as Igor Sydorenko‘s charisma as a frontman, which is a whole other plot thread here. His vocals have never sounded more confident or ranged as far as they do on Songs to Sun.
The video for “Shadowland” is on-theme for the song. There are some effects, a chase, and the band in a room with a blank background. It’s pro shop — they’ve got eyeliner, on, so you know they’re for real — and they’ve got tour dates for Europe, Australia and Latin America. If you’re waiting for them to come to the US, I wouldn’t say it couldn’t happen, but if I was in a band called Stoned Jesus and had the prospect of doing a month on the road in a christofascist dictatorship, maybe I’d think long and hard about whether or not to make that trip. I suppose “we’ll see” applies there, and I’ll note the ridiculous cost of US visas being the result of a government that actively doesn’t want you to hear new ideas and grow your brain.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they sneak more Euro shows in before the end of the year, but surely 2026 will see Stoned Jesus thoroughly on the road. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for Freak Valley, as it was such a pleasure to see them last year for the first time when I was in Hungary.
PR wire info follows the video below. Enjoy:
Stoned Jesus, “Shadowland” official video
Stoned Jesus Outrun Demons on Catchy Lead Single “Shadowland”
Returning to Latin America After 8 Years
Touring Europe with Cult of Luna + Australian Debut
Whether climbing to doomy peaks or bouldering through a radio-friendly banger, over the course of the past decade and a half, Stoned Jesus have left a mark on the world of rock as true trailblazers.
This year, following a successful showing at Hellfest and ahead of their long-awaited return to Latin America, Stoned Jesus are embarking on their most expansive journey yet. Songs to Sun is the first in an upcoming trilogy of albums that promises to take these heavy progressive rockers to the dark side of the moon and back. While well-marked by their mind-melting heaviness, the album’s lead single is haunted by shadows of doubt. But on “Shadowland”, frontman Igor Sydorenko and his new mates outrun their demons with fresh twists and the catchiest hooks of their career.
“This song is about finding solid ground amidst the instability of the past few years”, Sydorenko says. “The opening hook screams Alice In Chains, while the pulsating verses evoke Mastodon at their poppiest. And the climax is something else entirely!”
An existential shadow hangs over Songs to Sun. The album reflects on the unstable ground that Sydorenko navigated after the band’s previous lineup dissolved. Like the mysterious figures that creep and crawl around every corner of the video, insecurity looms over “Shadowland”. “Ground under my feet is / Turning to quicksand”, Sydorenko sings right before the compressed bridge cuts out. But even when shrouded by depression, Stoned Jesus are guided by the spirit of innovation. Right as their new lineup comes fully into focus at the end of the video, the song’s closing sprint breaks toward the light with a high-powered fusion of pop melodies and headbanging prog.
“There’s a constant sense of instability that seeps through the lyrics of Songs to Sun”, Sydorenko says, “but experimenting with the music is what helps give our lives a solid foundation”.
The video for “Shadowland” was produced by Pirate Shot (@pirateshotcreation)
Additional video credits
Directed and edited by Olivier Terrade
Camera work by Olivier Terrade and Onur Cinar
Special effects by Nicolas Stenger
Actor – Philip P. Coffey
Hear Stoned Jesus perform “Shadowland” and other new songs off Songs to Sun when they return to Latin America this fall following their European summer tour with Cult of Luna and Australian debut.
Get tickets: https://linktr.ee/stonedjesusband
2025 European Festivals
August 3 – Gyongyos, HU @ Fekete Zaj Festival
September 13 – Crest, FR @ Bridge To Hell
September 20 – Bilbao, ES @ Kristonfest
November 8 – Bochum, DE @ Tombstoned Fest
November 14 – Magny-Les-Hameaux, FR @ Foud Rock
November 15 – Eindhoven, NL @ Helldorado
2025 European Dates with Cult of Luna
August 11 – Osnabruck, DE @ Botschaft
August 12 – Bremen, DE @ Modernes
August 13 – Utrecht, NL @ Tivolivredenburg
2025 XV & Debut Australian Tour
September 28 – Perth @ The Rosemount
October 1 – Canberra @ The Baso
October 2 – Sydney @ The Underground
October 3 – Brisbane @ Soapbox Beer
October 4 – Melbourne @ The Leadbeater
October 5 – Adelaide @ The Crown & Anchor
2025 Latin American Tour
October 21 – Rio De Janeiro, Brazil @ Rock Experience
October 22 – Porto Alegre, Brazil @ Gravador
October 23 – Florianopolis, Brazil @ Desgosto
October 24 – Curitiba, Brazil @ Beveldere
October 25 – Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Jai Club
October 26 – Belo Horizonte, Brazil @ Caverna
October 28 – Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Uniclub
October 29 – Santiago, Chile @ Club Ambar
October 31 – Mexico City @ Sangriento [FIRST-EVER SHOW IN MEXICO]
Lineup:
Igor Sydorenko – Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Andrew Rodin – Bass, Backing Vocals
Yurii Ciel – Drums, Backing Vocals
