4 years after their debut ‘Become Ethereal’ (2021) – which, regrettably, escaped our radar – Norwegian post-metal quartet Sundrowned return with ‘Higanbana’, a remarkably assured and evocative leap forward. Named after the Japanese red spider lily, the album uses the flower’s symbolism—its blossoms and leaves never appearing together, its bulbs traditionally planted to protect graves and rice fields—as a compelling metaphor for cycles of life, death, memory, and renewal.
This duality informs both the album’s imagery and its musical architecture.
Drawing influences from Cult of Luna, Rosetta, Isis, Deafheaven, MØL and The Ocean, Sundrowned shape these reference points into a soundworld uniquely their own, where post-rock luminosity merges seamlessly with post-metal weight and blackgaze atmosphere. Opener “Barren” immediately demonstrates this dynamic: gentle, drifting layers give way to harsher textures before settling into a hypnotic equilibrium. Light and abrasion move together, not in conflict but in elegant tension.
Throughout ‘Higanbana’, the band showcase impressive command of mood and structure. “The Seed” swells with radiant crescendos, while “Primrose” and “Wisteria” reveal a fiercer edge. The standout, however, is “Ilex”—a creative summit that blends dream pop warmth, shoegaze delicacy, and black metal intensity into a shimmering meditation on touch and memory. The title track deepens the album’s emotional register with immersive, almost cinematic serenity.
While the production opts for atmospheric breadth over maximal punch, this choice enhances the album’s ethereal character rather than diminishing its impact. The interplay of soaring instrumentation and raw vocals feels intentional, even cleansing, and underscores the band’s preference for transcendence rather than sheer force.
Ultimately, ‘Higanbana’ – released with the support of Tiger/Fysisk Format/Diger – affirms Sundrowned as a band confidently finding its voice. It is an album that balances heaviness with clarity, abrasion with beauty, and introspection with uplift. Immersive, thoughtful, and often breathtaking, ‘Higanbana’ stands as one of the year’s most compelling post-metal releases—and a powerful indication of a band stepping into its full creative potential.
