Sunken Seas provide a sonic barrage of mood and melody, and enveloping textures, a force to be reckoned with. Waves and walls of sound, but always with a tender (or tough), thoughtful, intelligent lyrical bite in amongst the threatening canyons they create with their instruments. Sonic architecture it truly is – of the best kind. This second album follows on from their 2012 debut ‘Null Hour’ (as a three-piece of Ryan Harte on vox and bass, Luke Cavanagh‘s guitar and Craig Rattray on drums), with and EP entitled ‘Cataclysm’ released in 2013. Originally from Wellington, they have relocated to Auckland, brought in new drummer Jordan Puryer and added David Provan as second guitarist. The result is spectacular, the band have totally come into their own. With other observers’ thoughts ranging from ‘industrialised space rock’ through to ‘shoegaze’ I prefer the band’s own description of ‘hauntological’. Haunting and ‘churchey’ (that big epic space-filling sound) most certainly. Their influences might be the likes of Pumice, Bailter Space, Seefeel, Spacemen 3 et al, plus hints of The Cure, Loop… but I believe that Sunken Seas bring something new and unique to the table. Recorded at Munki Studios in Wellington, these guys are not to be ignored.

Glass by Sunken Seas