Deafheaven’s Lonely People With Power sees the band returning to their heavier roots, offering a blend of black metal’s ferocity and the atmospheric, expansive soundscapes that have come to define their work. While the album retains their signature sonic intensity, it also delves into a more emotionally raw and introspective territory, with sprawling arrangements that build in both complexity and power. This is the reason many black metal purists were pissed off by the Sunbather album, more than 10 years ago—a blend of shoegaze and black metal, now dubbed “blackgaze.”
Still, the opening track “Magnolia” immediately sets the tone, combining blast beats and shimmering melodies in a way that only Deafheaven can. The interplay of light and dark here feels more pronounced than ever, as the band expertly weaves delicate guitar lines with the ferocious energy of their signature black metal approach. And some tracks, like “Doberman,” are just straight black metal.
Throughout Lonely People With Power, the band embraces both aggression and atmosphere, moving fluidly between explosive, high-energy sections and more meditative, ambient moments. The production on this album is pristine, preserving the rawness of the band’s sound while allowing the intricate layers of instrumentation to shine.
What stands out most about this release is Deafheaven’s ability to evolve without abandoning their core identity. The album showcases their mastery of blending genres, creating a sound that’s as emotionally potent as it is sonically adventurous. Lonely People With Power feels like a new chapter for the band—one that offers both familiar intensity and fresh emotional depth. Fans of the band’s earlier work will find plenty to love, but newcomers will also be drawn into the magnetic force of Deafheaven’s ever-evolving sound.
