Sundr | Solar Ships [Press Release]
“Their carefully crafted, unforgiving atmosphere floors you right from the start and keeps you pinned down for as long as necessary.” – Everythingisnoise.net
“SUNDR pushes sludge metal in the opposite direction to what we’re used to, turning the gain down and the eeriness up – and it pays off beautifully in it’s own esoteric way.” – Heavyblogisheavy.com
CRUCIBLE is proud to release the forthcoming record from SUNDR, Solar Ships – a record of dark, morose and pensive metal that drifts through sloughs of emotion and turmoil.
With influences spanning deep and heavy, some might find themselves at times comparing SUNDR’s atmospheric post-metal to acts in the vein of Cult of Luna, Neurosis or Isis. Yet with the release of Solar Ships, SUNDR continue to prove themselves as masters of their craft – paying extra attention to the flexibility of cleaner guitar tones throughout this four-track release. The resulting music burns like a dim flame in endless darkness: a flicker of hope in a world, lost.
“The title is inspired by the solar barge, found deconstructed and buried at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Giza, built for Khufu, the second Pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt,” begins vocalist Scott Curtis, “‘A ritual vessel to carry the resurrected king with the sun god Ra across the heavens’. In the context of the album, this represents moments of deep personal truth that induce a psychedelic state, bringing us in contact with the infinite, acting as a vessel much like Khufu’s Solar Ship.”
“There are some reflections on The Canvas Sea, acknowledging our past, coming to terms with some lyrical themes that I explored back then from a more internal perspective. The first track Younger Dryas is a nod to A Carrion Vulture from the last record, lyrically and musically our comfort zone dissolves away through this song while a new identity emerges, and cultivates within the following three songs.”
Brooding, meditative and haunting all at once – I’ve Forgotten How To Be Alone is the first single from Solar Ships. Combining cyclical patterns, spacious, open ambience and crushing, patterned instrumentals, I’ve Forgotten How To Be Alone gives the listener time and space to contemplate, immerse and accept the rhythm’s loosening coil. Curtis’ vocals interject to shatter through this serenity like a brick through glass – with fury and anguish only seeming to intensify as the song travels to its climactic end.
“I’ve Forgotten How To Be Alone was the first line of lyrics written for the album,” says Curtis. “The song is about ‘the tragedy we don’t talk about’, anxiety, fear and depression silently creeping into our homes and lives, even in the seemingly mundane aspects of life, through illness both mental and physical, and our instinct in our modern society to push these things aside, internalise them, constantly distract ourselves until they have a stronghold on our life, changing the physical appearance of ones home, self and relationships. Lyrically I think this song is the most straight forward and a good representation of the overall concept.”
Steadily recognised as one of Melbourne’s most captivating live acts, SUNDR have proven themselves on stage with many a titan of the heavy scene, capturing ears and eyes alike on support slots with Amenra, Hexis, Primitive Man, Wolves in The Throne Room and many more. Although the uncertainty of COVID has put touring plans on hold, SUNDR is aiming to perform across Australia, Japan and Europe over the next 12 months.
With Solar Ships, SUNDR have proved themselves as a band unafraid to take risks – the titular track signalling a new direction which exceeds expectations for fans old and new. Be ready for the next chapter in one of Australia’s most notable post-metal acts when Solar Ships releases in September 2020.
Solar Ships releases via CRUCIBLE in September. For advance streams, media enquiries or other information, email contact@crucibleart.com or visit crucibleart.com.
