Ten years ago, Deafheaven challenged the boundaries of metal with the genre-bending, controversy-sparking epic Sunbather. Though some black metal purists resisted the album upon release, a decade on, it’s safe to say the record’s raw power and lasting impact has quieted the naysayers.
“At the time, it really affected us in a way. I was very taken aback that people would be so critical of what we were doing,” singer George Clarke told Heavy Consequence before Deafheaven’s Sunbather-heavy set at Louder Than Life 2023. “These days, I just don’t feel that way about criticism, thankfully.”
Take one look at Deafheaven’s recent output and it’s clear that Clarke isn’t lying when he says the band remains unafraid to take risks that might stir up criticism. Their latest LP, 2021’s Infinite Granite, softened the band’s harder edges. The songs lean into the dreamy, shoegaze soundscapes that have always backdropped their sound.
The band “took the jump,” as Clarke says, and somehow managed to land safely on the other side. The shift in style even brought a host of new fans who have subsequently embraced their back catalog, skipping right past any mention of ‘black metal purity.’
“[Now] our audience, who has changed and become younger, don’t necessary have an idea of what the reception of [Sunbather] was like 10 years ago. For them, it’s just, ‘Oh, I just enjoy this,'” he continues. “More so now than ever, we come in contact with people who are just genuinely excited about the band.”
Deafheaven are set to celebrate Sunbather‘s 10th anniversary with a run of North American tour dates. Kicking off November 26th in Chicago and running through December 16th in Austin, Texas, the band will be bringing along Touché Amoré, with additional special guests joining along the way. Grab tickets to one of the upcoming shows here.
Watch above for our full conversation with Clarke, who chats about Sunbather‘s meme status, Infinite Granite‘s risks, and more.
Trouble viewing the video above? Watch on YouTube.
Deafheaven’s Sunbather 10th Anniversary 2023 Tour Dates:
11/26 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
11/27 – Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrews Hall
11/29 – Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
11/30 – Boston, MA @ Royale
12/02 – Washington, DC @ Howard
12/03 – New York, NY @ Knockdown Center
12/07 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency
12/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Novo
12/13 – Denver, CO @ Summit
12/16 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s