Sleep Makes Today Awesome by Releasing “The Clarity,” Their First New Song in 18 Years

July 18th, 2014

Kevin Blumeyer

Seminal stoner metal outfit Sleep just made every metalhead’s week by releasing “The Clarity,” the band’s first new song since the legendary Dopesmoker was originally recorded back in 1996. The track comes as part of Adult Swim’s singles series, which will also bring us new songs from Deafheaven and Mastodon, among others, in the coming months. I don’t fully understand the concept of “Adult Swim Singles,” but THERE IS A NEW SLEEP SONG. I don’t care how or why it happened. I’m just glad it exists. The track will also be available for free download on July 21.

Sleep disbanded in 1998 as the band faced a label dispute surrounding the Dopesmoker album, which the band wanted to release as a single 63-minute song. Guitarist Matt Pike (also of High on Fire) and bassist/vocalist Al Cisneros have reformed the group for sporadic live appearances in recent years, recruiting Neurosis drummer Jason Roeder to round out the trio. The band will embark on this short U.S. tour in August, while they’ve also said the recording of “The Clarity” has inspired them to record an entire album of new material at some point. Click through to listen to “The Clarity.”