SLEEP Releases First New Music in 8yrs & Announces Tour Without Mike Pike In Lineup

After years of dormancy, the band SLEEP has awoken to release their first new music in 8 years. The last new material we received from them was the critically acclaimed 2016 LP, The Sciences, which appeared out of the blue and marked the first album the trio had put out in 20 years. Today, we are delivered a doomy space-rock track titled, “Spacesuit Will Travel,” which finds vocalist/bassist AL Cisneros backed by a new lineup featuring drummer, Dale Crover (Melvins, Redd Kross, Altamont) alongside guitarist Bubba Dupree (Void, Brant Bjork).

The absence of Matt Pike is a difficult concept to embrace, but it can’t be said that Cisneros hasn’t surrounded himself with some heavy hitters (quite literally, in the case of Crover). Based on the verbiage in the announcement, it seems a future for the stoner-metal pioneers with their founding guitarist wasn’t in the cards.

The official statement claims, “The music and art are alive, and after the decades of obstacles that Sleep has overcome, it is time to move forward and make songs and albums.” Adding that, “Al wishes Matt the best on his earth bound maneuvers.“

Pike has found success in High In Fire and has other projects to focus on. Similarly, Cisneros has done tremendous work with OM. This leaves some wondering why this new trio with Crover and Dupree needs to be presented as SLEEP at all, rather than as a wholly different project altogether. My assumption is that SLEEP has very specific themes and history that Cisneros is not finished exploring. A 4:20 edit of the new song is receiving a flexi-disc release through Third Man Records as part of a bundle including a comic book. In the story, The Marijuanaut encounters The Weedian while exploring Planet Iommia – all very SLEEP-specific references and content. Illustrated by Dave Kloc and frequent collaborator/Dopesmoker cover artist, Arik Roper, something like this could never be released without the SLEEP name on it and make any legitimate sense.

Perhaps, Pike doesn’t feel any creative urge to continue exploring the world of SLEEP. Maybe there are just too many creative differences. What we do know is that guitar tone is essentially irreplaceable. With the phrase “No Pike = No Sleep” already gaining traction, plenty of fans are making it clear they aren’t interested in giving the new incarnation a chance. If nothing else, this pushback might force out more details about the split sooner than later.

With all of this said, Crover is one of my favorite drummers ever, and, regardless of whether you’re upset with the departure of Matt Pike, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone better at pounding out a monstrous, imposing beat than the man who helped define the sludge-rock blueprint with Melvins. Jason Roeder of Neurosis did a remarkable job replacing original SLEEP drummer, Chris Hakius, for the band’s 2009 reunion run, until he was “unceremoniously fired” by their management over the phone last year. A drummer was needed, and Crover is a god-tier pull for that position.

As for Bubba Dupree, he’s definitely no slouch. From his standout guitar work in the highly influential yet short-lived DC hardcore outfit, VOID, to his history in desert-rock projects alongside names like Brant Bjork, he has a more than respectable resume.

Al offers the following insight about the new trio coming together: “The vibe of the first jam was obvious. It was blue sunglasses-era Iommi in the quality, and equally awesome is Bubba is also one of the coolest people I’ve been able to make music with.”

The new SLEEP will be embarking on an extensive US tour with dates in September and November. Whether there will be more new material for them to perform by then waits to be seen. The band won’t be the same without Matt Pike, but at least they have the formula to produce something great and different.

Check out the full list of tour dates below, followed by examples of the physical media available for pre-order.

For standalone comic, CLICK HERE