Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power

Few bands elicit as many passionate discussions as Deafheaven. They stand as the ultimate hipster black metal band – that distinctly warm Californian/edgy interpretation of the traditionally depressive Nordic formula. To these ears, it’s crafted exactly one perfect 5.0/5.0 album (Sunbather). However, ever since New Bermuda, I’ve gradually fallen out of love with its evolving sound. This isn’t to say its subsequent work was bad – it simply never recaptured those genre-defining heights that initially made them so revolutionary. So it was with minimal expectations that I approached Lonely People With Power a title so quintessentially Deafheaven it almost hurts), steeling myself primarily against disappointment.

The burning question for me remains: Has Deafheaven truly returned to form? At risk of premature judgment, I’ll declare this its strongest material in a full decade. Lonely presents itself as ugly, heavy, and hostile, yet crucially, it delivers that cathartic release that channels the finest creative impulses from Post/Black Metal’s past ten years. There’s less of those signature Californian sunshine vibes here, replaced instead by the scorching intensity of California wildfires – and frankly, it’s about freaking time! Our current cultural landscape desperately needs more genuinely subversive statements, and Lonely clearly positions itself as exactly that kind of defiant artistic declaration.

I anticipate disagreement, but it’s been years since Deafheaven sounded this monumentally massive. The drumming here reaches ferocious new peaks, while the guitar work transcends its usual melancholic Post/Black approach, actively striving for greater viciousness and violence than ever before. The music assaults you with that specific brand of vindictive fury known only to those discarded by our ruthless consumerist dystopia. Yet what truly surprises me about Lonely is how, despite all its blistering intensity, it never sacrifices its capacity for emotional resonance. This remains an album overflowing with vulnerability, one that could still penetrate even the most jaded Metalhead’s defenses.

I can already hear the frothing masses anointing this as album of the year – and that may well prove justified – but we must address its imperfections. The most glaring issue? This album is downright exhausting. It’s a marathon-length, titanic effort that constantly pushes the listener to their absolute limits – there were moments when my ears were literally pleading for a break. As with much of its catalog, we could have trimmed some interludes, and several tracks would benefit from losing a minute or two, particularly during the album’s final third where the sustained intensity and sheer loudness left me feeling somewhat battered.

However, none of these criticisms negate the album’s very real accomplishments. After all these years, Deafheaven demonstrates it still has meaningful artistic contributions to make, refusing to settle into comfortable “heritage act” complacency. For many devotees, this won’t represent a comeback since Deafheaven never truly went away – but for this listener, it absolutely marks a triumphant return to form. While I’m not yet prepared to feel excitement about future directions, Lonely provides more than enough substance to sustain my engagement with the band for years to come. And yes, this review lacked my usual humor – but just look at that cover artwork! How exactly does one crack jokes about such imagery without subsequently requiring witness protection? You try!

They want 40 bucks for the LP? Wait, what?!

Label: Roadrunner Records

Release date: March 28, 2025

Website: https://deafheavens.bandcamp.com/album/lonely-people-with-power

Country: USA

Score: An orderly 4.2/5.0