Two Faces of the Same Darkness as a Dueling Assault on the Senses: Stolen Sun - Hedonistic Beings // Into the Void (Dual Track Review) Released: 7/26/24

 

When analyzing the modern landscape of independent heavy music, few sonic statements carry the sheer, unadulterated venom and kinetic hostility of the dual-single release from Chicago metal outfit Stolen Sun. Operating at a volatile crossroads where the structural aggression of contemporary deathcore collides head-on with the raw, confrontational attitude of metallic hardcore, the band has crafted a devastating two-track showcase that functions as a grim mirror to a fracturing world. Rather than presenting these songs as isolated musical thoughts, Stolen Sun has delivered a cohesive two-part masterclass in existential dread and societal cynicism. The entire presentation feels calculated to disorient and bludgeon, utilizing a production framework engineered by Pete Grossmann at Bricktop Recording that maximizes every ounce of low-end impact while preserving the gritty, organic dirt that separates authentic heavy music from clinical, over-polished studio exercises. Through these two tracks, the band explores the twin pillars of external societal decay and internal psychological collapse, creating a listening experience that is as intellectually bleak as it is physically punishing.


The onslaught begins in earnest with "Hedonistic Beings," a collaborative track featuring Ian Temby of Into the Silo that stands as a definitive high point in Stolen Sun's discography. From its opening moments, the song rejects any semblance of a traditional atmospheric buildup, launching the listener directly into a hurricane of jagged, discordant guitar riffs and frantic percussion. The track functions as an overt, furious critique of modern consumer culture and the transactional nature of human relationships, driven by a lyrical narrative steeped in a bleak, nihilistic worldview. The vocal delivery is exceptionally vicious, a multi-layered assault where manic, throat-tearing screams trade places with deep, resonant gutturals. As the lyrics declare a fierce desire to thrive in disorder and witness the definitive end of a self-absorbed society, the music mirrors this emotional volatility perfectly. The arrangement shifts unpredictably, keeping the listener entirely off-balance with erratic tempo changes and sudden bursts of rhythmic violence.

The true genius of "Hedonistic Beings," however, lies in its ability to seamlessly bridge the gap between high-concept sonic extremity and the raw, community-driven spirit of old-school hardcore. This is epitomized by a mid-song call-out that instantly burns itself into the listener's memory: a self-aware, fiercely confident declaration of arrival that carries more attitude in a single line than most bands manage across an entire album. It is a moment of pure, unadulterated personality that sets the track apart from the often overly serious and clinical nature of modern metalcore, serving as the ultimate catalyst before the song detonates into one of the most punishing and structurally chaotic breakdowns recorded in recent years. The guitars bend and scrape under the immense pressure of low-tuned chugs, while the drums deliver earth-shaking blows that feel like a physical assault. It is a triumphant display of musical aggression that leaves the listener breathless and makes "Hedonistic Beings" an immediate anthem for the underground.

Without allowing a single moment for recovery, the release transitions into its darker, more atmospheric companion "Into the Void." Where the preceding track is a chaotic, outward-facing middle finger to the structure of society, "Into the Void" represents a deeply internal, suffocating descent into absolute psychological nothingness. Sonically, the band trades the frantic, high-tempo jaggedness of the A-side for a slow, agonizingly heavy march that feels mechanical and inevitable. The guitar work shifts toward an impenetrable wall of down-tuned sound, relying on deep, cavernous low-end grooves that seem to swallow all remaining light in the room. The rhythm section takes center stage, with bass and drums locking into a heavy, repetitive pattern that mimics the unyielding momentum of an industrial machine. 

This track acts as the perfect spiritual counterweight to the frantic energy of "Hedonistic Beings," proving that Stolen Sun are just as adept at drowning their audience in thick, claustrophobic atmosphere as they are at bludgeoning them with rapid-fire technicality. The juxtaposition of these two tracks reveals a band with a sophisticated understanding of pacing and dynamic contrast. "Into the Void" does not feel like an afterthought or filler; it feels like the necessary, bleak conclusion to the structural collapse initiated by its predecessor. It is an exercise in pure, sustained tension, where the listener waits constantly for a release that never truly arrives in the way they expect, forcing them to sit within the heavy, dragging weight of the music. By the time the final notes fade into silence, the collective impact of both tracks leaves a lasting impression of profound desolation.

Stolen Sun have successfully avoided the common pitfalls of the modern genre by refusing to rely on predictable formulas, cheap melodic choruses, or overused electronic samples, leaning instead entirely on the raw power of human performance, intelligent songwriting, and a collective chemistry that allows them to weaponize heavy tones to their absolute maximum potential. Featuring Anthony Ofenloch on vocals, Cooper Kleinke and Michael Krupp on guitars, Dakota Newman on bass, and Bobby Dalheim on drums, this is a band firing on all cylinders with a clear, uncompromising vision. This release is a definitive statement of intent, carving out a unique and dangerous space in the modern heavy music landscape and proving that Stolen Sun are a force that demands undivided attention.

Go give Hedonistic Beings a spin now and see what you're missing: 

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