Boston-based desert rock trio Sundrifter today debuts their latest single and video for “Limitless”. Now playing at The Obelisk, the track comes by way of the band’s “An Earlier Time” full-length, set for release on February 16th via Small Stone Recordings.
Sundrifter’s sound is bigger and broader on An Earlier Time. From the appropriate beginning of “Limitless” onward, the New England three-piece answers the potential of their 2019 sophomore album, “Visitations”, and their 2016 debut, “Not Coming Back”, with a collection that is likewise huge and intimate, bringing together expansive atmospheres a la Hum’s heavy post-rock vision with Soundgarden’s unmitigated heavy revelry and melodic command and the contemplative expressivism of Radiohead. The offering features eight songs, each one of them a world to get lost in.
With the returning trio of guitarist/vocalist Craig Peura, bassist Paul Gaughran, and drummer Patrick Queenan, Sundrifter calls to mind the expansive atmospheric heavy rock of outfits like Forming The Void or Small Stone veterans Abrahma, but Peura’s vocals cull influence from ’90s alt rock in a way that emphasizes the individual now more than ever.
Writes The Obelisk:
“From the triumphal chugs and declarative rhythm of opener ‘Limitless,’ the album will make you believe music and just about anything else you want can fly, the band’s songs honing character through atmospheric riffing, and the theatrical, unafraid-to-reach vocals of Craig Peura.”
“‘Limitless’ is about knowing in your heart where you belong and not being afraid to jump from the highest point to find it,”
elaborates Peura of the band’s latest single.
“I recall this tune being the first to gain serious form during the writing for An Earlier Time,” recalls Gaughran. “The style and initial feel of the initial riff that Craig presented us was a combination of all my favorite aspects of the previous record, but from an instrumental perspective also gave more room to work with and be creative within. The song starts from a very grounded, almost tribal sounding straight-forward arrangement and by the end is so densely orchestrated and spacial. It closes sounding elevated, even heavenly. Sort of an attempt to convey an earth-to-sky experience I suppose. I think it sets the tone for the record well.”
Adds Queenan:
“Returning to Futura Studios to track drums with our engineer Dan [Schwartz] is always a no brainer. The former masonic temple converted recording studio provides not only the best expansive space to track epic sounding drums in but on a metaphysical level provides a certain energy or vibe to the recording process. Drums being the first tracks to be recorded followed by a global shut down in 2020 this video along with the record serve as a real time capsule. Over the past four years a lot has changed for us individually and as a group but now here in 2024 we are feeling quite Limitless.”
Watch Sundrifter’s “Limitless” video here:
https://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2024/01/29/sundrifter-an-earlier-time-limitless-premiere/
The band’s third album realizations come complemented by the return of producer/mixer Dan Schwartz, mastering by Chris Goosman, and cover art by Branca Studio, furthering the “complete package” sensibility fostered in no small part by the weighted complexity and breadth of the tracks themselves. It’s not so much heavy rock as is, but as it could be.
“An Earlier Time” will be released on CD, limited edition LP, and digitally.
Sundrifter Live:
2/01/2023 Widowmaker Brewery – Braintree, MA w/ Swamphead, Bone Church, Earthlore
Sundrifter:
Craig Peura – vocals, guita
Paul Gaughran – bass
Patrick Queenan – drums
Photo by Matt Darcy
