Style: psychedelic doom / post-metal (mixed vocals)
Review by: Dan
Country: Poland
Release date: February 26, 2021
I first discovered Sunnata’s dynamic, hypnotic soundscapes when I came across their 2018 album Outlands shortly after its release. It quickly became a regular part of my listening rotation, scratching an itch that nothing else seemed to hit. I had high hopes for their followup, and while I was completely blown away by the gorgeous aesthetics of Burning in Heaven, Melting on Earth, I wasn’t quite as blown away by the album’s first single.
Thankfully, this first single wasn’t necessarily representative of the entirety of the band’s fourth full-length, but does serve to highlight some of the album’s inconsistencies. I will also admit that, despite this unfavorable first impression, the song has grown on me quite a bit – a testament to Sunnata’s songwriting strengths.
Burning in Heaven, Melting on Earth is a hypnotic, spaced out journey of… doomy, psychedelic, post-stoner metal? I see them referred to as “shamanic doom” but honestly, I’m not even sure what that means. The album is filled with droning chants, engaging melodies, and massive, terrific dynamics. The unhurried tempos and blissed-out atmospheres are perfect for the evening vibes I always have trouble filling. The long songs are each an epic journey, full of organic, subtle dynamics shifts that progressively build until you’re furiously bobbing your head and wishing you could remember how you got there.
Frequently utilizing exotic scales and vaguely Middle-Eastern percussive vibes, the band excels at crafting hazy, atmospheric, gently undulating, bass-driven jam sessions that gradually swell into massive bouts of heaviness. The song “Voodoo” by Godsmack keeps coming to mind as a reference for the tonality and mood of this album, but with a bit less Sully Erna and much lengthier, more dynamic composition. Trippier effects, too.
Overall, the vocals fall on the more esoteric side of the spectrum, and are at times a bit of a shift from Sunnata’s prior album. On Outlands, they were typically heavily layered, largely flat chants, set way back in the mix, and this suited the songs incredibly well. Not many other projects I’m aware of sound quite like this. On Burning in Heaven, Melting on Earth, however, the main vocals are occasionally more front and center, single harmony, and a bit more ambitious with the melodies. I have to admit… these “lead” vocals are probably the weakest part of this album. While the melodies are well-written, and honestly I find myself singing along to them as they’ve grown on me over the course of repeated listens, their performance is a bit off-putting at first. As the songs build into their emotional heavier sections though, they incorporate some harsh vocals which are quite effective, and there are plenty of chanted sections that harken back to the band’s prior effort. The heaviest (but still melodic) climactic moments of “Völva (The Seeress)” are definitely a vocal highlight, and I wouldn’t mind more of this style singing!
As stated, Sunnata occasionally demonstrates exceptional songwriting skill, but unfortunately, Burning in Heaven, Melting on Earth is a bit inconsistent in this department too. Album opener (and first single) “Crows” ends up being one of the album’s stronger tracks, despite my initial aversions. Some of the mellower, more jam-session style tracks like “God Emperor of Dune” end up falling a bit flat, without enough meat to really feel satisfying. It’s enjoyable to zone out in the moment and appreciate the ride, as even these half-improvised jams swell into structured crescendos, but the truly memorable sections are a bit fewer and further between than on Outlands.
Overall, this is a unique and enjoyable album, with some standout moments, excellent dynamics, and engaging, lush, atmospheric grooves, but inconsistencies in performance and songwriting hold Sunnata back from reaching their fullest potential.
Recommended tracks: Crows, A Million Lives, Völva (The Seeress)
Recommended for fans of: Om, Yob, Tool, Alice in Chains, Neurosis, unique vocals?
Final verdict: 7/10
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram
Sunnata is:
– Szy (vocals, guitar)
– Gad (guitar)
– Dob (bass)
– Rob (drums)
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