Album cover was supposed to be the colour you see when you close your eyes and the sun is shining on you. Super cool.

I was depressed and massively overweight in 2013. This album lifted me up so much. It got me out of the house and I would walk around my city for hours listening to it. It was so uplifting walk in the sun to this. I lost 150lbs, got a job, met a girl (showed her this album and took her to see them) had a kid and changed my life. This album is so important for me it’s crazy. I don’t know what I’d be like today without it. It was a kick up the ass I needed. Great stuff.

I'll never forget thinking this was a pop album just because of the cover.

Huge DH fanboy here, loved this album, loved their later releases even more. They are one of the most enduring blackgaze acts out there and Sunbather still holds up 10 years later. They've influenced a lot of the music I listen to now.

Dream House, Sunbather, and The Pecan Tree are all 10/10 tracks. Not many songs can take me to the place 'The Pecan Tree' does emotionally. Stunning album. EDIT: smh, forgot Vertigo (rightfully called out for it)

“I am my father’s son / I am no one / I cannot love / It’s in my blood” still knocks me on my ass every time I hear it

One of my favorite albums of all time. An experience that makes you feel every emotion in one.

Cool retrospective, Anthony! I didn't really get into this record when it first came out, and I still haven't given it a chance. I'm probably not going to. Thanks!

I always find that people underrate how important the Screamo influence was for their sound. The vocals and especially the drumming are something you get from a Portraits of Past or Orchid record more than a Burzum or Ulver. That's why most blackgaze acts that came after felt so drab, because most of them didn't reach the cathartic heights of a Dream House or Sunbather since they focused on the atmospheric elements from Post-Metal and Atmoblack. This catharsis is what made Deafheaven special in my opinion and was replicated very rarely. The closest I'd say would be those old envy records they definitely took influence from and the new Asunojokei release which gives the blackgaze formula a new shiny post-hc edge that feels like an even more accessible cathartic sound that resembles Deafheaven, which I both heavily recommend. When I saw Deafheaven live with Touche Amore and Portrayal of Guilt is when this all made more sense to me.

I'm going to see Deafheaven perform this album in its entirety next week! Super excited 😁

This was actually the record that got me into black metal and I'm forever grateful for it. It stands to this day one of my favorite albums of all time.

Sunbather, Celestial Lineage, Marrow of the Spirit, Teethed Glory and Injury, Eccailes de Lune, Roads to the North. The post/atmospheric scene was thriving in the 2010s. Had so much fun discovering all of these amazing works back then ❤

Sunbather is honestly my favourite song of all time. I genuinely can't put into words how much i love it.

I recall the vitriol within the metal community about the "hipster metal" of Deafheaven and Pantopticon. It's kind of funny to look back on, especially with Panopticon because Austin Lunn has become so respected within the genre.

Somthing about the soundscape here, it never fails to make me choke up. Like a ballet preformed from pure spite. Burning sunset skies painted over a war. Anger and pain accentuated by beauty.

The transition from Irresistable to the title track is one of my favorites of all time. Ten years later, it still jumpscares me every time.

'I want to be there' by sadness is actually a pretty good black gaze album, and it's decently recent

This album was my introduction to everything metal. I still get watery eyes whenever I get to the 2nd half of Dream House.

Deafheaven is one of the most interesting bands in the genre over the last 10 years. I've seen them live a few times, and they are as ferocious as they are shoegazy. Love it and bring on the haters.

The biggest reason this album was so successful (besides the songs being good) is because of the dichotomy between the heaviness of the genre and the aesthetic of the album. Pink cover, called Sunbather, it's a black metal album wrapped in Beach House, tropical, dream pop packaging. This had never been done.

Recent blackgaze album Island by Asunojokei feels like the most recent big blackgaze record that feels like a great continuation of the kind of sound and atmosphere that Sunbather created. Also something I found listening to this record early this year, this album's really good at keeping your attention for something not looking for just a huge thing to sit down and chew on, there's this really good pacing where there are often really exciting short tracks to break up the longer more thought out tracks.

I really love Ordinary Corrupt Human Love.

Here’s hoping that we might get one of these retrospectives for Like Clockwork as well!

I had a very moving experience seeing Deafheaven live shortly after this release. So much raw energy braahhhh

I would highly recommend Agalloch’s Ashes Against the Grain. The layered guitar intro always pulls me into the apocalyptic album.

Discovered this band a month ago and im in love (yes even infinite granite is amazing and boundary pushing for them)

And shout out to the OG kvlt 'muricans (well, not the very first US black metal band, but the one that really kickstarted the scene): Weakling with their 2000 album Dead As Dreams. If you are new to the genre, I highly recommend this masterpiece (which you can find only on KZfaq due to how rare it is): 5 long PERFECT tracks with rawness, melodies, emotions and sonic exploration. You cannot talk about 2000s black metal without this seminal opus.

Asunojokei's Island is an album that wears its black-gaze influences such as Deafheaven on its sleeves. Incredibly heartfelt record that i think everyone should check out

Obsequiae is another incredible black metal band (imo) that I hardly ever hear anyone talking about. Not the same style as Deafheaven but they have a really cool sound, probably best described as “medieval black metal”. It’s really beautiful stuff and they have a lot of short acoustic instrumental interludes that add a lot to that vibe.

Man, such a great album. I got it on vinyl just the other day. Also day one of asking to see Cal Chuchesta in corpse paint.

this album was a pivotal step for me in expanding my taste in heavy music beyond screamo / death metal. would have never gotten into panopticon or an autumn for crippled children had i not given this album a chance. edit: also The Pecan Tree is one of those songs that hits just right every time i go back to it.

To anyone here that likes black metal (especially atmospheric BM), you have to see WITTR live. Still one of the best live acts I've ever seen

Play Irresistible from Sunbather over any part of this video, Anthony's voice fits perfectly for some reason

This album changed my life. Actually. One of the best metal albums EVER! I can’t say enough good things about it!

They still killing it

Woah Anthony mentioned Lantlos, love that band

Sunbather does so many things so well all at once, it really was a cool moment in time to experience it.

This album speaks to me on a different level, both lyrically and musically. One of my favorites of all time. I also appreciate the departure from the typical black metal visual language.

as a long time viewer of your content, i friggin love these 10 year anniversary retrospectives. please keep ‘em coming

Not super recent (2018) but JORD by Denmark's MØL is one of my favourite blackgaze albums to come out, which is fairly late into the genre's boom. Might not have been the most groundbreaking, but the vocals were on another level. Amazing live band too, I think I've enjoyed their sets more than any Deafheaven set that I've seen!

Holy Fawn is the current top band in this sound that people really need to hear.

Heard Dreamhouse on the radio and I instantly believed I could like heavy music again. I never thought that was possible. It was an instant emotional reaction. It captured me as a listener.

Never in a million years did I ever expect to hear Lantlos shouted out in a Fantano vid 😂

Seen em live several times in the last 10 years.

I still like this album a lot and I’m glad you took the time to look back at it 10 years later. I learned about it initially through your original review. Thanks man.

Saw them play this puppy at Roadburn festival (in its entirety) and it was AMAZING.

Never thought fantano would make a video of the effects of sun on the skin

Just discovered this one a few months ago and I can’t get enough. Saw em live last month. 10/10 for me. So beautiful

One recent blackgaze/adjacent release that surprised me was Wounds of Recollection's "Warm Glow of the End of Everything." I wouldn't posit that it's as experimental as something like Liturgy, though the songwriting, production, and emotional draw are all there for me. Other contemporary works that have stuck with me are from Damián Antón Ojeda (Sadness, life, & many other aliases) - I don't know how he wields so much creative potential - and Tanpopo Crisis, whose album "Millennium Flower" holds a very special place in my heart.

your Sunbather review was the first video I ever saw from you, so happy 10 years of me watching your stuff as well lol

Seeing this video title made me feel very old. Thanks Anthony!

DH played in Bogotá, Colombia, a few months ago, and I was impressed by how lovely George and Kerry were with the fans. Signed autographs and took selfies until the last person in the audience was satisfied. Great guys.

This is one of the most important records in my musical journey. Got me into extreme metal and on a path to more experimental stuff. Amazing record. If everything goes well, I'm going to see it performed live in its entirety this summer at arctangent, hype is real.

This album is - by far - the best suggestion Spotify has ever done to me. Started listening 3yrs ago and haven’t stopped.

Never heard of it beyond seeing the album cover. Just gave it a play... Oh. I've found something new and cool sounding. Black Metal isn't my favorite genre, but this album / band weaves it on a different angle. ❤🤘

Also ...Like Clockwork turns 10 years old this weekend. Guess it would be interesting to hear Anthony's thoughts on it too, given that it was in his top-3 albums of 2013

Just an incredible album that most definitely deserves a retrospective review. Nice one Anthony.

Just saw Def heaven live who was opening for Coheed and Cambria. They were so good

Weirdly enough, your sunbather review got me into Envy and i've been a crazy huge fan since

Was literally listening to this album again today, on vinyl for the first time, not even realizing it was the 10 year anniversary of its release. Holds up to this day as one of my favorite albums, and the one that made me understand the appeal of extreme metal.

This album is such an intense emotional experience and an overall work of beauty. I somewhat agree with KZfaqr Finn McKenty in that a lot of the hate the record got from purists might have been more due to its appeal to indie audiences, its presentation and its popularity and less due to the actual music. Which is a shame because the record got me into a lot of "real" oldschool black metal as well. 😕

This album got me into black metal *and* shoegaze. Pretty great.

I STILL listen to Sunbather at least weekly.

This is the album that got me into metal as a whole. I remember I used to turn on the record and just sit outside and daydream in the summer. This album is incredibly nostalgic for me now. I think this album did for blackgaze for a brief moment what nevermind did for grunge. (Underground) labels were scrambling to sign the next deafheaven for a while and lots of other bands with the same sound started getting signed

So excited to see this performed at ArcTanGent this year! Also, shout out to whoever invented the 'Piss Yellow' vinyl variant

Utterly breathtaking record. The wall of sound is just next level and it’s elevated with such passionate vocals. I know it’s popular to hate Deafheaven but Dream House is one of my all time favourite songs, just goosebump inducing.

Sun bat her? I hardly know her!

I remember seeing them live playing this album in its entirety and it was incredible. I’ve never seen them live sense because it’s never going to top that experience with what they’ve been doing lately.

This album hitting me at 27 was just perfect timing. One of the best summers of my life, and this was the soundtrack.

I owe a lot to this album. It got me into other amazing albums like White Tomb, Two Hunters, and Marrow of the Spirit

Sunbather introduced me to black metal and now while I don't listen to DH much anymore they're the reason I listen to what have now been my favorite bands for years. Shoutout Caladan Brood and Mesarthim ✊️✊️✊️

I remember walking into my regular record shop, seeing this album with a big sticker of positive reviews and picking it up. The clerk walks over to me and just said "buy it, you won't be disappointed". Driving home I had this album cranked in my car and it blew my mind. I wasn't much of an extreme metal fan and this album changed all of that for me. I love this record.

I wish you'd do one of these for Teethed Glory and Injury by Altar of Plagues, which came out March(?) Of 2013 🔥 that album changed my life fr, and I prefer it to Sunbather

Please do a review of Wayfarer - a romamce with violence . It's on of the best American black metal album out there

This is an introduction for me... I've never even knew this existed... amazing album. thankyou

Never listened but plan to. The cover is so beautiful and such a vibe. For this to be black metal (which is seen as a dark genre) but have a cover so bright shows genius duality. Art

It’s still fire. Thanks to this album for getting me into blacker music and giving me some great memories and experience

To me Agalloch's three albums from the 00s is the gold standard of atmospheric black metal. I've looked far for albums that match it and the only one I've found is Sorni Nai by Kauan. Deafheaven is adjacent tho, and I think their 'live' album 10 years gone is a great overview of their sound, and a great COVID era recording.

Really wish Anthony would talk about Metal more often, it’s a genre I always considered my favorite before I started getting into more niche stuff and I’d be really interested by learning the history of these more underground genres

For anyone who craves the Sunbather sound, a really similar album is Melting Sun - Lantlos.

Deafheaven got me into metal and are my all time favorite band

I'm leaving my comfort space of Power Metal recently, getting into some BM, primarily from Curta'n Wall - Siege Ubsessed, which is such an excellent record.

It's the record that got me into black metal/heavy music in general, will forever remain in my top 5, such a masterpiece

this and Converge’s Jane Doe are my favorite albums ever

10 years later, it's still making black metal fans mad

Seeing Deafheaven perform SUNBATHER in full at Arctangent in a couple of months, so excited! Amazing festival.

I remember seeing the sunbather CD for the first time on the recommended plays shelf at my college radio station and thinking it was mislabeled as a metal album based on the cover. Just a singular experience hearing these songs for the first time

Damn shawty, is it blissful?

The clensing is still one of my favourite songs

Still trips me out I discovered Canary Yellow from a Snapchat ad probably eight years ago. Only good use I got out of that app

saw them live just a couple months ago. took a 6 hour bus to another state at dawn and took another one back home at night right after the show lol. best gig ever. they put up one hell of a show and were super friendly afterwards. sadly wasnt one of the live Sunbather shows theyve been doing but the set was pretty great. I love small venue shows.

Saw them live and love all their records. So great

Sunbather was my favorite black metal album in Highschool, it got me into bands like Dark Funeral, and I still listen to it every now and then because of how dynamic the sound is.

It's a masterpiece

It’s the greatest achievement in graphic design in the past 25 years. Good album, too. Irresistible is one of my favorite instrumentals.

I put this album on every now and then when I'm painting miniatures. It helps me zone out the rest of the world and focus. I especially love Irresistible for that dreamy, nostalgic feeling. Feels like a nice, relaxing afternoon with a little melancholy in it.

Just discovered sugar wounds the other day. Definitely heavily influenced by this album and I recommend it. Glad to see artists still being inspired by deafheaven 10 years later

I only recently discovered them and I’ve completely fell in love with it. I’ve played “Sunbather” repeatedly the past couple of months

bruh thats crazy i saw deafheaven in sydney last night, great show and a great band!

N E E D L E D R P