Sleep are looking a little different these days — only vocalist-bassist Al Cisneros remains from the original lineup — but the long-revered stoner outfit have suited up to boot back into dank and doomy terrain. Following a pair of tripped-out singles, they’ve formally launched their first album in eight years, Hempispheres.
As previously reported, Hempispheres is the first Sleep release to not feature founding riff-slinger and High on Fire leader Matt Pike. The trio currently comprises Cisneros, hard-hitting Melvins drum legend Dale Crover and Bubba Dupree, the cult hardcore guitarist who first showed up on the scene in the early Eighties while ripping riffs with Void.
Sleep had first teased the release with the “Have Spacesuit Will Travel” and the dirge-forward “The Morrisist.” The title track latches onto a bud-blazing groove, while Dupree — who has also collaborated with Soundgarden — brings a more lysergic, pineal-melting, almost raga-like wriggle to his epically bend-freaked three-minute solo.
“Arrival of the Industry Ships” sets sail on super doomy, wave-unsettled waters. Staccato-chugged closer “Whole Wheat Mountain Well Baked” is a toasty finale that suggests Sleep are keeping up with their self-proclaimed “Iommic studies.”
A press release explains that Hempispheres was developed following a handful of “relaxed” jam sessions, and was later recorded at the Melvins’ studio with Toshi Kasai, an engineer who has worked with Melvins for decades.
Hempispheres is out now digitally via Third Man Records, and can be streamed up above. The album will be released on vinyl October 30th, and an exclusive pressing on “opaque green” wax (limited to 300 copies) is available in Revolver’s shop, where you can likewise find other vinyl and CD pressings of Hempispheres, as well as other key Sleep releases.
Hempispheres is also being released alongside a Sleep-themed comic book series, which is inspired by the band’s lyrics. The comic saga takes place on the “riff-filled land” of Planet Iommia. The first issue was written by Cisneros and features illustrations from Dave Kloc and Arik Roper. Sleep’s comic available for purchase in both a special and standard edition via Third Man Books.
Sleep are also hitting the road next week. Their North American tour opener is September 8th at the Observatory in San Diego, California. The full breakdown on their serious trip is here.
