Word of Mouth #6: Deafheaven - Sunbather

Deafheaven - Sunbather on YouTube

'Sunbather' is a release courtesy of Deathwish Inc. (yes, them again, and god damn it is it glorious).

Yeah, I'm spreading the word about the album that Metacritic, Pitchfork Magazine, Spin Magazine, and Rolling Stone Magazine are declaring the top metal album of 2013. Indeed, its score on Metacritic is a whopping 92 percent, based on 17 critic reviews. The "Best Albums of 2013" page (click here for source) states: "It's the first time a metal album has occupied the #1 slot in our year-end rankings."

Anyway, as I listen to this now, I am astounded at just how texturally rich this release is. I'm four tracks in and I have heard post-rock, black metal, shoegazing, post-hardcore, orchestral, psychedelic, and surely many other wakes of music...so far. Last year's "The Seer" by the legendary avant-garde outfit Swans evoked a similar, inaccessible sound that, without understating it, mindfucks the listener into gleefully masochistic submission.

Is this a review? No. It's a means of spreading the word. Many have heard of Deafheaven's praise by now, and may think I'm riding a bandwagon by publishing this piece, but I'm fucking thrilled to do so. These guys deserve not only your attention, but your recognition for the hard, complex work the guys have put into this release.

So Old, So Cold

Take my skin, and live it a lifetime unlike me
Today it feels so hollow and empty of joy
That's when I realize where I'm going
It just seems so unfair to me is all

I have to bear with the truth, I'm so old
I'm so in need of meaning, I'm so cold
When I die, remember me
I've lived my life to the bitter end

I'm so old, and so cold

With the way I've lived, one would feel so hopeless
At this moment I'm in drowning in misery
Mortified at the thought of the end of my life
It just seems that I couldn't be what I wanted to be

I have to bear with the truth, I'm so old
I'm so in need of meaning, I'm so cold
When I die, remember me
I've lived my life to the bitter end

I'm so old, and so cold

Take my skin and take it to places I've never been
That's my regret
To never embrace
The possibilities

With the way I've lived, just the thought is torturous
That's my crime
To myself
Now it's too late to do it again

I have to bear with the truth, I'm so old
I'm so in need of meaning, I'm so cold
When I die, remember me
Now to bear with the truth, I'm so old
So in need of meaning, I'm so cold
When I die, remember me
I've lived my life where I could never be
All that was possible

Bring Down Our Berlin Wall

The wall is ominous
It's all that separates us
I've unfurled my sickles and hammers
To strike it down
Built from your trauma
It displaces our love
The time we found each other
Now seemingly gone
The wall is oppressive
It's what distances us
From whatever hearts we're made of
Won't you help strike it down
It guards your soul
The feelings we have for each other
Now lost in the unknown

The wall is spiteful
It's the thorn in our sides
Why do you lack the mutual effort
To help do it away
My hands are breaking
It eats at my longing
For time we could spend together
Now under lock and key
The wall is maddening
My Goliath, your David
I've unsheathed my utmost will
To bring it down
A part of your weakness
That keeps you from growing
And giving us the chance
To be happy together

I've unfurled my sickles and hammers
I've unsheathed my utmost will
Why can't you help me
Bring down our Berlin Wall

Nothing Left

Outside there is nothing
That can save me from
Death of my own making
So I wait for a time to
End the excruciating
Pain of the everyday
There's nothing left for me
There's nothing left for me
To experience
It's all been spoken for

What has come my way
Is all of the world the same
We sacrifice seconds, minutes
Just for it to end in decay

There's nothing left

Inside of my own head
One could find emptiness
It's not the fault of mine
Life is just a carousel
I'm no longer a willing being
So send the ender or I'll do it
There's nothing left for me
There's nothing left for me
To experience
It's all been spoken for

What has come my way
Is all of the world the same
We sacrifice seconds, minutes
Just for it to end in decay

There's nothing left

I can't be convinced
I can't be reasoned with
No one can stop this
Self-defiance
Or can the void be filled
With something new?

There's nothing left

What has come my way
Is all of the world the same
We sacrifice seconds, minutes
Just for it to end in decay

The terror of life!

Sanguinary Creature

In the accusatory light of everyday
I successfully masquerade
Two figments of mind equally insane
Get me off the fucking street!

Insatiable thirst for gore built up
No need to mention I'm fucked up
In the slammer I've plummeted
Now need to kill to get back up

Need you ask why? Are you blind?
Isn't my visceral nature a sign?
I guess I must rip out your spine
By then it might be too late for you

Oh but I'd rather take pleasure
In the insatiable act of torture
Your screams are the only measure
Get me off the fucking street!

Welcome me Driver!
Welcome me Driver!
Welcome me Driver!
I'm back, your lord, Driver!

Claim Me

 So close to home, close to my blackened heart
The burden of truth on my horrid voracity
Hit me hard and swift, upon sight of innocence
I had to resist, I couldn't take the life of a kid

For death is my only friend
As I've brought many lives to an end...

I'm sinking into this ever deepening abyss
I believe in the karma that is coming my way
I'm sinking into this ever deepening abyss
I know I will see the face of death I truly deserve

For death is my only friend
As I've brought many lives to an end...

So I welcome you, taker of souls replete with sin
I'm far too inhumane to coexist
With those whose humanity I had once shared
I had to resist, I couldn't take the life of a kid

For death is my only friend
As I've brought many lives to an end...

I'm sinking into this ever deepening abyss
I believe in the karma that is coming my way
I'm sinking into this ever deepening abyss
I know I will see the face of death I truly deserve

For death is my only friend
As I've brought many lives to an end...

My abyss, from the blackest pit of my being
Consumes me in the time where truth has hit
I can't live anymore
I can't know anymore
I can't accept anymore
The monster I've become

For death is my only friend
As I've brought many lives to an end...

I'm sinking into this ever deepening abyss
I believe in the karma that is coming my way
I'm sinking into this ever deepening abyss
I know I will see the face of death I truly deserve

My abyss claims me
Consumes me from dark truth
I am a monster
I am a monster...

Gemini

Gemini, Gemini, Gemini

Come to me! Come to me! Come to me!

Gemini

Take my life, give it an end
To set me free, forever I so dread!

Gemini, Gemini, Gemini

Come to me! Come to me! Come to me!

Gemini

Give me peace, of heart & mind
To know that my life will end in time

Gemini, Gemini, Gemini

Come to me! Come to me! Come to me!
Answer me! Answer me! Answer me!

Hands To The Fallen

Amongst the scattered scarred people
I drive home a shattered fate
I've set the benchmark for a new world
A world free from all the hate
Infecting all the open minds
With content and full grace
For the fellow man
For the fallen man

Truth sets us free
Knowledge is power
Truth lets me be
Knowledge is everything

Infect all the open minds
With content and full grace
For the fellow man
For the fallen man

I'm alive in a world beset with choices
Our choices make us
Rid of the malice I've sought to erase
We can all just try again
Infecting all the open minds
With content and full grace
For the fellow man
For the fallen man

Truth sets us free
Knowledge is power
Truth lets me be
Knowledge is everything

Golddigger

Born in a travesty
Faceless from the seams
No loving god above
To feed you starving love

And now I am here
No one you should fear
But unfair defaults
Bear me fatal faults

Can you see
See me beyond
Red eyes
Red eyes of hatred?

All that I loved
About you, as a dove
Shattered with trust
Anger on me you thrust

I'm not your enemy
I hold fair meaning
Just no loving god above
To feed you starving love

Can you see me beyond
Your red eyes of hatred?
Where's the hope to live
For the world of mine I've given

Which you'll never give
To keep you forever starving
Of the love you seek
The love you leech

Can you see
See me beyond
Red eyes
Red eyes of hatred?

Can this be
All we'll need
Blue eyes
Blue eyes of tears

Shedding

I'm not your enemy
I hold fair meaning
No loving god above
To feed you starving love

Cold Hand

I'm not me

Clawed, cold hand
Reaches inside me
For my heart
And my meaning

I am not all that you see
I now seek to kill with glee

Clawed, cold hand
Twists inside me
Holds my heart
And my meaning

I am no longer all you've known
I'm the evil the seed in me has grown

I'm not me
Can't you see?

Look into the eyes of death
And fear what you see

I'm not me
Don't love me

Glistening Flesh

I try so hard to see things in a better way
Knowing deep inside it's not right
When I stop thinking every day about you
I'll be in the clear once more
It truly hurts to think
That I may have to let go of you
No pain, no gain it seems
And I know that I want the best for me

It's over, no more from your trauma dreams
Or your failed promises
It's over, I will wise up as I grow older
To see through glistening flesh

You left a mark on my burdened soul
It will take so long to heal
I can taste freedom from my longing for something good
From you there's nothing
It truly burns me within
That I lost something I could have had with you
I will paint your skin
With the lies you told me, and the cold manipulation

It's over, no more from your trauma dreams
Or your failed promises
It's over, I will wise up as I grow older
To see through glistening flesh

Let me move on
Let me live
I see beyond
Glistening flesh

Time will heal all wounds
I will be rid of you
Signs that I'll improve
Eye me around every corner
You left me in disorder
You left me in disarray

It's over, no more from your trauma dreams
Or your failed promises
It's over, I will wise up as I grow older
To see through glistening flesh

What lies above hides what is beneath
A smooth face hiding a scarred heart
To see through glistening flesh
Is to win the war on cold hearts

Ballistic

Make swift exit from me
Or I will go to ballistics
And paint this city red
And the blood will rest upon you
You turn me the wrong way
One too many times
And I can't tolerate it
And you wallow in it all

I'm going over the edge

Imp in sheep's clothing
Succubus of the mind
I'm going over the edge
I'm going over the edge
I'm going over the edge
I'm going over the edge

Ballistic

Make swift exit from me
Or I will go to ballistics
And bring ruin to everything
And you will be the last of me
You rub me the wrong way
Only one last time
And I cannot take it
And you won't hurt me again

I'm going over the edge

Imp in sheep's clothing
Succubus of the mind
I'm going over the edge
I'm going over the edge
I'm going over the edge
I'm going over the edge

Ballistic

This is my last stand
I will bring ruin
To all we all hold dear
If I find you anywhere near
I'm going feral soon
I'll go apeshit from you
And your mind games
And I will not blink

As I go ballistic

I'm going over the edge
I'm going over the edge
I'm going over the edge
I'm going over the edge

Imp in sheep's clothing
Succubus of the mind
Devil in fancy red dress
This is the last time

I'm going over the edge
I'm going to ballistics

Armageddon

The end times will never arise
The bloody end I've prophesied
Sold to foolish sods every way
Stupidly believe in the end of days
Armageddon

I'm a con with the darkest heart
My words are a weapon, lies like art
Poisoning the well for the "heretics"
My polemics consist of all but shit
Armageddon

Hellbent on spreading words of venom
I am the keeper of light in God's eye
Hellbent on spreading words of venom
I am the keeper of light in God's eye

We bow to him
We swear to him
Armageddon
We bow to him
We swear to him
Armageddon

Spiritual Immolation

Open the doors for my past demons
To fly right back in, kicking & screaming
Why don't you open it further for them
You seem to enjoy the chaos ensuing
You'll get yours', mark my words now
I'll put you in the position you put me in
And then you can swallow the laughter
That you so seem to enjoy
You'll pay for this, you'll burn for this
You'll suffer spiritual immolation
You'll scream for this, you'll bleed for this
You'll suffer spiritual immolation
Your heart will break
And I won't reach out my hand
And heal you again

Painful Option

Please misplace her, please disgrace her
Can you give her one last taste
Of the grace I have to give her?

Know not of whom I beg
To make her finally see
I'm alone in all of this
Should I just call it quits?
Effort taken for nothing
Not a thing is returned
And I am lost with only
One painful option

I'm down, down on my knees
The man in me smashed to smithereens
Nothing seems to work for me
Nothing seems to work for me
Nothing seems to work for me
Incidence got the best of me

Who can give her one last taste
Of the grace I have to give her?

Tears of frustration
Must bring a quick end
This connection I felt
In her is severing
The veins to my heart
Are painfully tearing
So I am left with only
One painful option

Who can give her one last taste
Of the grace I have to give her?
Who can help me bare her truth
Of the person I can be to her?

I'm left with only one option
And I am too deep in tune
To change for myself
The wavelengths I've felt
Were like nothing ever before
I beg to know what to do
So I am left with only
One painful option

But what is it?

I'm down, down on my knees
The man in me smashed to smithereens
Nothing seems to work for me
Nothing seems to work for me
Nothing seems to work for me
Incidence got the best of me

Please misplace her, please disgrace her
Can you give her one last taste
Of the grace I have to give her?
Can you help me bare her truth
Of the person I can be to her?

What am I to do, when the love you felt seemed so true?

Our Rose Hearts

The glowing hearts of millions
Inkling away into nothing more than
Paper-thin abstract cuts
Once veiled things now shadows
Of the former things we all have been
A side to us all only left unseen
Come the day that we wake up and smell
The roses that we burn or sell
Tap into inner strengths numbed by time
The roses of our hearts will flourish again

We kill what we don't understand
We fear what we don't know
We swear by the comfortable and the seemingly safe
We revere false rewards and grandstanding lies
So much for being so fucking great

We need to erase our fear of the unknown
We need to grow out of our eternal childishness
We seem to be on the right path sometimes
We breathe for something great but can't yet grasp
It is evolution we so sorely need

The few and the far between hide and think
Truly grasping the balance of all things
When will we all stop and see
The bountiful things that we all can be
So come today when we wake up and smell
The roses that we burn or sell
Realize we're capable of great deeds
The roses of our hearts will flourish again

Where's the "great nurturer" of life?
Where's the vast rewards we recite?
Blight on the mind all these painstaking lies
We need a healthy change for all time

Come the day when we wake up and smell
The roses that we burn or sell
Tap into inner strengths numbed by time
The roses of our hearts will flourish again
Flourish again, flourish again

Our black rose hearts
Will redden once more
Flourish again, flourish again
The roses of our hearts will flourish again

Don't Live Life So Dark

You burn for charge
Heart of steel melting
Mending the ways destroyed
Flex your greatest desires
Accept the defeats
That the journey will bring
Exercise wise humility
Clear the storm
That you create
Out of fear and control

Marching down the road
Blind to hopes and dreams
Laugh, live, love
And smile effortlessly
Acceptance
Resplendence
Don't live life so dark

Tailor it all to your liking
You'll always happen on suffering
If you let it be that way
Mark your own words
For they are not infallible
Pressing you on, must handle
With all your might and wits about you

See the road ahead
It splits and there's no end
Only if you give up
The road ahead will stop

Marching down the road
Blind to hopes and dreams
Laugh, live, love
And smile effortlessly
Acceptance
Resplendence
Don't live life so dark

Just dance, dance
Know you've got no other chance
Just sing, sing
Know that you can make your own way
Sing...sing...dance the darkness away and sing

It's all in your hands!

Marching down the road
Blind to hopes and dreams
Laugh, live, love
And smile effortlessly
Acceptance
Resplendence
Don't live life so dark

Heed the cyborg's words!