Album Review: Sunk Heaven – THE FVCKHEAѪTED LVNG (American Dreams Records)

On THE FVCKHEAѪTED LVNG, New York visual artist and musician Austin Sley-Julian of Sunk Heaven might convince you the lungfish is the spirit animal of 2021.

He explains the creature’s significance:

Lungfish survive severe drought by laying dormant in dry mud within a membrane until the rain – the emergence of the dormant lungfish from under the drought-ridden mud represents the garish reality of our times, uncovering the thin veil it wore for so long.

It’s an apt description for what THE FVCKHEAѪTED LVNG is. The only one that might make sense as this is a very weird album. One that many will have difficulty describing or encouraging others to hear.

One play of the opener, Fortitude might be enough to put many off. The jarring, techno noise is abrasive as hell, and it doesn’t get any less abrasive with the noise-rock sounds of Fall W-O Impact. As a fan of wacky and eclectic compositions, even I’m struggling with this one.

It’s hard to say who it’s for. As Cancer of The Room’s piercing alarm gets sharper and louder overshadowing the eerie melody and horror-like vocals. A Nameless Influence descends into what can be at best described as nonsense and both Breathtaking and Coiling Devices are discombobulated weirdness.

If you’ve made it this far, you’ll likely have made up your mind already if you love or hate this. It is unendingly unusual and consistently puzzling, something Phoenix isn’t changing with its Silent Hill-esque atmospheric horror that oozes out of it. Nor is Moonfires’ beeps, squeaks and echoing vocals, Motiv Turmoil’s techno babble or Shrine’s unnerving and monotonous tones.

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Simply put, I really want to like this but no matter how many times I listen to it, I just don’t get it. I love noise, I love eclectic use of effects and weirdness that has you scratching your head. This is THE FVCKHEAѪTED LVNG but, it’s just not connecting with me.

Sunk Heaven – THE FVCKHEAѪTED LVNG Full Track Listing:

1. Fortitude
2. Fall W-O Impact
3. Cancer of The Room (ft. Rachael Uhlir)
4. A Nameless Influence
5. Breathtaking
6. Coiling Devices
7. Phoenix (ft. Rachael Uhlir)
8. Moonfires
9. Motiv Turmoil
10. Shine




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Sunk Heaven - THE FVCKHEAѪTED LVNG (American Dreams Records)
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