Album Review // Deafheaven // Lonely People with Power

Roadrunner Records

4.5/5 stars

It seemed like Deafheaven was on the verge of switching lanes. 2021's Infinite Granite saw the band dropping their lengthy black metal movements in favor of short, accessible shoegaze songs. It wouldn't have been a bad trade-off if the songs were a bit more compelling. After a polarizing response, returning to black metal on Lonely People with Power could seem like a regression. Instead, the band carries forward lessons from each past release, crafting what feels like a career-defining achievement. Lonely People with Power isn't Sunbather Part 2, though a track like "Winona" invites comparison. Elements from across the band's catalog appear here: the thrash-metal energy of single "Magnolia," refined bursts of clean vocals on "Heathens" and "The Marvelous Orange Tree." But there are also fresh directions, such as the gritty post-punk of "Body Behavior" and the harsh noise of "Incidental II." While many imitators have come and gone since Deafheaven's rise, Lonely People with Power continues to capture their past strengths while pushing boldly forward. It's a record only these genre-bending veterans could make – and it may be their best yet.