Sleep : Hempispheres

Sleep are absolute legends. Not only did the trio -which included Al Cisneros on bass, Matt Pike on guitar, and Chris Hakius(later Jason Roeder) on drums- help define stoner and doom metal in one fell toke…I mean, swoop, but they showed how heavy and loud a three-piece can be.

After their game-changing album Dopesmoker, the band went on a semi-permanent hiatus, with Cisneros and Hakius forming the meditative Om, while Matt Pike formed High on Fire, blazing their own musical paths for years. The hour-long song titled “Dopesmoker”, which was like if you combined Frank Herbert, Black Sabbath, and Cheech and Chong kind of broke these metal heads with the song not getting its proper release till years later.

Eventually Sleep reformed for shows, while releasing new singles and even a surprise new LP in 2018 called The Sciences. It seemed the sleeping giant had woken. But things got quiet after that release, with Al Cisneros doing other things while Pike continued on with High on Fire.

Sleep has returned, but with only Al Cisneros as the only original member. Matt Pike is not in the band, as well as Jason Roeder returning to Neurosis. Bubba Dupree has taken over guitar duties, while Melvins Dale Crover is behind the drum kit. This new incarnation of Sleep has just released Hempispheres, the band’s newest album in 8 years. While hardcore fans mourn the loss of Matt Pike’s thunderous guitar squall, Dupree brings a new, atmospheric vibe to the band. The result is an album less about heft and more about groove.

Listen, I get it if this new version of Sleep isn’t your thing. Matt Pike left some massive shoes to fill as his playing and sound was integral to the Sleep formula. But this version of Sleep has a lot to offer. “Have Spacesuit Will Travel” was the first single released earlier in the summer and it was definitely a sonic shift. Still heavy, but more about atmosphere and groove. The radio edit was a sample of what was to come, and disappointed I am not. “The Morrisist” is menacing but subtle. Middle-eastern touches come thru in the dark melodies, while Al Cisneros’ vocals rumble and act as some kind of beacon in the darkness. The Sabbath vibes are strong.

Elsewhere title track “Hempispheres” bellows in Iommi riffage, somehow sounding like both Black Sabbath and early Tool. One new tool is being utilized in this new Sleep sound and it’s the Moog synth. How they never thought to bring that in before is beyond me. It already feels integral in their new sonic stew. “Arrival of the Industry Ships” hangs on for over 11 minutes and is a slow burn the whole way through, with Cisneros’ bass pummeling eardrums the whole way. And album closer “Whole Wheat Mountain/Well Baked” lives up to its title. The THC puns never end here.

If you miss the old Sleep, well you have records you can listen to in order to scratch that dank itch. Hempispheres is a new kind of Sleep. This is a late night spin with the black lights on and headphones on your head. And candles lit. Hail Iommi!