Doomed Nation

Sounds For The Lost Generation

Giant Sleep’s third full-length album »Grounded To The Sky« out now via Czar Of Crickets Productions!

German doom/stoner/prog/post-rock band Giant Sleep has just released their third full-length album »Grounded To The Sky« this Friday, January 27th, 2023 via Czar Of Crickets Productions.

Tracklist:
01. Silent Field
02. Grounded To The Sky
03. Siren Song
04. Good Boy
05. Davos
06. Shadow Walker
07. Cemetery Story
08. Sour Milk
09. The Elixir

Courtesy of Czar Of Crickets Productions:

Giant Sleep – »Grounded To The Sky« // New album out now!

Listen on Spotify or YouTube / Order Vinyl or CD HERE

When Giant Sleep came to be in 2012, it was an unlikely but ultimately fruitful liaison: Founded by guitarists Patrick Hagmann and Markus Ruf after the demise of melodic death metallers Fear My Thoughts together with former Destruction singer Thomas Rosenmerkel, the band became an outlet for the members ́ passion for all things classic rock without shallow “vintage” or “retro” sentiments.

Consequently, their first, self-titled full-length became “demo of the month” in opinion-leading German magazine Rock Hard in 2014, followed three years later by label debut »Move A Mountain« (Eucalypdisc) while the group kept gigging selectively with international acts such as ASG or Dead Lord and at festivals, also replacing Ruf with Tobias Glanzmann (ex-Zatokrev) and further honing their craft.

With new material collected during four years of free and easy songwriting, the Swiss-German quintet recorded their third album »Grounded To The Sky« completely live within two days – practically no overdubs! – at Little Creek Studios in Gelterkinden/CH together with producer V.O. Pulver (Destruction, Pro-Pain etc.). Vividly capturing the musicians live energy, the nine tracks display Giant Sleep ́s widest range of tastes, colours, moods and sounds yet.


Photo by Janne Kern

As suggested by the title, »Grounded To The Sky« is a work of dichotomies, with opener »Silent Field« displaying both vulnerability and strength before the epic title track sees Hagmann and Glanzmann riffing it out with legs apart, creating bedazzling twin harmonies as they go. Whereas the eight-plus-minute ´The Elixir« takes the listener on a cinematic journey, the tight and relatively short »Good Boy« alternately trots and struts in Soundgarden’s footsteps. Elsewhere, the hypnotic »Shadow Walker« and the fevered rhythms of »Sour Milk« highlight the outstandingly dynamic production while the Janus-headed ´Siren Song« oscillates between weightless and sonically powerful passages befitting its lyrical heft.

With the soaring »Davos«, Giant Sleep wax poetical on eco-political terrain yet dodge clichéd finger-pointing just like »Cemetery Story« doesn’t come even remotely close to conventional stoner or blues rock, although drawing from both. So what’s not to love about »Grounded To The Sky«? Let’s hand over to singer Thomas for some final words: “There are three meanings to the title like in a spiritual gospel song: heavenly salvation in an esoteric way, “going north” where there is no slavery but freedom and lastly “higher” in a psychedelic way…”

Line-up:
Thomas Rosenmerkel – Vocals
Patrick Hagmann – Guitar
Tobias Glanzmann – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Radek Stecki – Bass
Manuel Spänhauer – Drums

“»Grounded To The Sky« has it all. Transitioning gracefully from foot-stomping, head-banging riffs into twisting, introspective guitar noodles, you’ll find yourself sucked into the instrumentation just as much as the killer vocals.” – Everything Is Noise

“It’s hard not to recommend the album like »Grounded To The Sky«, it’s great in every way, modern, but reminiscent of the 60’s and 70’s music as well.” – Monarch Magazine

“Giant Sleep makes the mind feel warm and fuzzy, and as open as an untouched desert plain. It’s both grounded and lofty music, and no one track can be recommended, simply because the whole thing should be experienced. In fact, it must be experienced.” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life

“»Grounded To The Sky« is full of fun stoner grooves and is a treat for fans of the genre. It is a genuinely enjoyable time overall with very much to enjoy.” – Heavy Music HQ

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well

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