Stoned Jesus – Songs to Sun

Stoned Jesus – Songs to Sun

Via Season Of Mist

Fifteen years in, Stoned Jesus remain one of Europe’s most uncompromising heavy rock outfits, and with Songs to Sun, Igor Sydorenko and his revitalised lineup prove they’ve got no interest in treading water. Instead, they’ve delivered the first in a planned trilogy of albums — a bold, sprawling statement that fuses the fuzzed out doom of their early days with progressive ambition and hook driven songwriting sharp enough to slice clean through granite.

From the opening swell of New Dawn, it’s clear Sydorenko is in complete command. The track lurches forward with Sabbath born riffs but breathes with the melodic sensibilities of Porcupine Tree. By the time Shadowland rolls in, the trio have found a swaggering mid tempo groove, equal parts hypnotic and suffocating, before Lost in the Rain plunges into seven and a half minutes of rain soaked melancholy — Stoned Jesus doing balladry their way, heavy, aching, and utterly immersive.

Low offers the album’s most immediate punch, a tight four minute blast of grunge tinged grit that recalls Alice In Chains at their darkest, while See You on the Road swings with road worn energy, Sydorenko’s vocals carrying just enough bite to keep things dangerous. The closer, Quicksand, is the real crown jewel — a near ten minute descent into spiralling riffs and venom spitting lyricism. Sydorenko unloads with raw honesty, “I’m tired of all the people, they make me fucking sick.” It’s not just catharsis, it’s a mission statement.

Production, handled by Karl Daniel Lidén, brings out every ounce of muscle and atmosphere. The low end punches like a kick in the ribs, the guitars swirl and choke with fuzz, and Yurii Ciel’s drums thunder with ritualistic precision. Newcomer Andrew Rodin adds vocal depth and bass heft, anchoring the trio with a chemistry that feels both fresh and battle hardened.

What’s remarkable is how Songs to Sun manages to look both backwards and forwards. The nods to Seven Thunders Roar and The Harvest are unmistakable, but the sense of evolution is undeniable. Sydorenko’s refusal to repeat himself keeps Stoned Jesus vital — this is heavy prog rock that’s not afraid to get dirty, dreamy, or downright fkn loud when it needs to.

Songs to Sun isn’t just another Stoned Jesus record, it’s a statement of survival, reinvention, and intent. The trilogy has only just begun, but if this is the opening, fans better strap in. Stoned Jesus are still climbing the bloody mountain, and they’re dragging us all up there with them.