A long time ago, Deafheaven actually didn't start with Sunbather. I distantly remember reading about this at a random blog once, of course I had no clue what would follow but still approached it with an open mind. I also went after the 2010 Demo, which may be the only one I liked. Road to Judas epitomizes the shoegaze-influenced black metal trend but struggles to deliver a something memorable. While the band’s layered “wall of sound” approach shines, the dull vocals and forgettable riffs just make this skippable. Overlong tracks like “Violet” feel bloated and the payoff Deafheaven think they deliver, though “Language Games” and “Unrequited” are at least a little bit stronger. Despite glimpses of potential, the album ultimately felt uninspired to me, and nothing has changed since then. [2 - Below Average]
Track listing:
1. Violet 12:19
2. Language Games 06:47
3. Unrequited 09:31
4. Tunnel of Trees 09:45