I’m pretty sure that by the time Valley of the Sun embark on this October run through the parts of Europe that are mostly Germany in the company of rad murk-doom up and covers Daevar, the second part of the Ohio-based heavy rockers’ Quintessence LP will be released. Led by guitarist/vocalist Ryan Ferrier, the now-self-releasing unit offered Quintessence Pt. 1 in early May, and the second five tracks of the total 10 that make up the offering seem to be slated for July as per their Bandcamp, while vinyl preorders are listed for Oct. 4 — better get those packages together before you head out, dudes — and CDs on Sept. 25. Pick your poison as regards formats — it’s gonna be fuzzy either way.

The run is taking place under the banner of Sound of Liberation, so appearances for Valley of the Sun at Up in Smoke, Keep it Low, Desertfest Belgium and Lazy Bones fests make sense, and you’ll note the Westill Fest in France closes the tour at the start of November. I don’t know much about that one — it’s probably been around for 30 years — but they booked Valley of the Sun, so at very least they’ve got that going in their favor.

SOL posted the following to socials this morning. Remember, if you’re someplace with a TBA, you should help if you can:

VALLEY OF THE SUN EUROPE TOUR 2024 WITH SPECIAL GUEST DAEVAR

Hey friends, we’re super stoked to present you the Valley Of The Sun Europe tour 2024!🔥

Special guest for many of the shows will be Daevar!💥⚸

Check out the dates below and grab your tickets!🚀

04.10.2024 (DE) Münster, Rare Guitar
05.10.2024 (CH) Pratteln, Up In Smoke
06.10.2024 (IT) Bologna, Freakout Club
07.10.2024 (IT) Altroquando, Zero Branco
08.10.2024 (IT) Bozen, Südwerk
09.10.2024 (AT) Innsbruck, PMK
10.10.2024 (DE) Nürnberg, MUZ
11.10.2024 (DE) Munich, Keep It Low
12.10.2024 (DE) Siegen, Vortex*
13.10.2024 (DE) Dresden, Chemiefabrik*
14.10.2024 (DE) Berlin, Zukunft*
15.10.2024 (DE) Hannover, Faust*
16.10.2024 (DE) Würzburg, Immerhin*
17.10.2024 (DE) Cologne, Volta*
18.10.2024 (DE) Erfurt, VEB Kultur*
19.10.2024 (BE) Antwerpen, Desertfest*
20.10.2024 TBA*
21.10.2024 TBA*
22.10.2024 (DE) Fulda, Kreuz*
23.10.2024 (NL) Nijmegen, Merlejn*
24.10.2024 (DE) Bielefeld, Forum*
25.10.2024 (DE) Den Bosch, W2*
26.10.2024 (DE) Hamburg, Lazy Bones*
27.10.2024 (DK) Copenhagen, Stengade
30.10.2024 TBA
31.10.2024 TBA
01.11.2024 TBA
02.11.2024 (FR) Vallet, Westill Festival
*w/ Daevar

Valley of the Sun are:
Ryan Ferrier – guitars and vocals
Chris Sweeney – bass, keys, and additional guitars
Johnny Kathman – drums, percussion, and additional guitars
(Additional guitars on Where’s This Place I Roam? by Pete Koretzky)

https://www.facebook.com/valleyofthesun/
https://www.instagram.com/valleyofthesunband/
http://valleyofthesun.bandcamp.com/

Valley of the Sun, Quintessence (2024)

Whatever brand of headache you’re working with today — be it work, family, life, hangover, bangover, undercaffeination, overcaffeination, general existential dread, etc. — Valley of the Sun offer Quintessence Pt. 1, the first half of their upcoming self-released LP, as the way out from under it. Recorded not one full month ago, these five new tracks find the long-running Ohoian heavy rockers led by guitarist/vocalist Ryan Ferrier operating as a trio with Chris Sweeney on bass/keys (also some guitar) and Johnny Kathman on drums (also also some guitar), and releasing in DIY fashion as the follow-up to The Chariot (review here), released in 2022 on Fuzzorama Records and Ripple Music.

Ferrier, Sweeney and Kathman pull back on some of the desert-hued thrust that might come to mind if you heard The Chariot or their preceding LPs with “Graviton,” and “Where’s This Place I Roam?” highlights a moodier atmosphere, but “Palus Somni” is as characteristic — quintessential? — Valley of the Sun as you could hope to hear, and as Pt. 1 is only half the story they’re telling, I’ll be all-ears for the rest whenever it might arrive.

They’re already confirmed for a return to Europe this October to play Keep it Low Festival in Munich, and I’m pretty sure there’s more touring to be announced shortly, so keep an eye out. In the meantime, album info and such goes like this, and physical-edition preorders are up now:

Inspired by the total solar eclipse which took place on day 1 of recording (April 8, 2024), Quintessence marks a return to the three-piece format for Valley of the Sun. With massive, sub-octave guitars, thundering bass, and a backbone of rock-solid drumming, the album is a bit of a departure from previous efforts, but long-time fans of the band will still find all the riffs, melodies, and soaring vocals that they’ve come to expect from VOTS over its previous four LP’s.

Releases July 25, 2024.

Quintessence Pt. 1 tracklisting:
1. Terra Luna Sol 04:25
2. Graviton 06:30
3. Where’s This Place I Roam? 04:35
4. The Late Heavy Bombardment 04:18
5. Palus Somni 04:58

Produced, mixed, and mastered by John Naclerio at Nada Recording Studio in Montgomery, New York.
Artwork by Jarrod Warf.

Valley of the Sun are:
Ryan Ferrier – guitars and vocals
Chris Sweeney – bass, keys, and additional guitars
Johnny Kathman – drums, percussion, and additional guitars
(Additional guitars on Where’s This Place I Roam? by Pete Koretzky)

https://www.facebook.com/valleyofthesun/
https://www.instagram.com/valleyofthesunband/
http://valleyofthesun.bandcamp.com/

Valley of the Sun, Quintessence (2024)