Discography Ranking: Deafheaven

Written by: Tyler Freeman

Edited by: Bridget Gallagher

Deafheaven is a blackgaze band that combines elements of post rock, black metal, and shoegaze in their recordings. Hailing from San Francisco, the band has become a favorite among fans of the “blackgaze” genre, many metal fans across the world, and even general music fans and critics. As a big fan of their work—and as a fan of both heavy shoegaze and metal—I may be biased in saying that their music feels transcendent. However, how do the six studio albums they’ve released over the past 14 years stack up against each other? .

Describing Deafheaven’s sound to an audience unfamiliar to them can be complicated, especially  these days where every genre seems to end in “-gaze” or “-core.” It's understandable for new listeners to be intimidated or confused. Deafheaven stands as one of the heavy hitters in the “blackgaze” genre, combining ambient reverbs and delays with the crushing riffs of metal and the sound walls of shoegaze. This fusion allows each song to tell a story—often shifting from calm, atmospheric music to the raw sound of black metal and the fullness of shoegaze, all in one seven or eight minute song. 

After spending many hours listening and reflecting on their discography, I have compiled a ranking of their six studio albums from worst to best. 

#6: Roads to Judah (2011)

The rankings start off with Deafheaven’s first full length record, Roads to Judah,  released in 2011. As described earlier, this album integrates black metal with atmospheric elements, starting with clean ambient sections before transitioning into the traditional black gaze sound. Being the band’s debut, it is understandable that the production could have been stronger and the album is also on the shorter side. However, the drumming stands out as a highlight, and the album sets a good foundation for Deafheaven’s future sound. 

Songs to hear: Unrequited

#5: Infinite Granite (2021)

Coming in at number 5, Infinite Granite marks a change of pace for the band, leaning more towards their shoegaze side. This album sounds more like something from Slowdive rather than the usual post-metal ambient sound. As with any band that changes their sound, this album divided fans— debating on whether it is worth listening to. While I personally prefer their more traditional style albums, Infinite Granite stands as one of my favorite shoegaze albums.

Some fans may put it at the top of their lists, others may put it at the bottom. Either way, it is a solid listen front to back, with seamless transitions and cohesive atmosphere. The vocals are softer than their more acclaimed and traditional albums, but the elements of post-rock and metal do show every now and then. The more you listen to this one, the more you appreciate its niches. And honestly, “Mombasa” is easily a top 5 Deafheaven song. 

Songs to hear: Mombasa, In Blur, Great Mass of Color

#4: Ordinary Corrupt Human Love (2018)

This album follows Infinite Granite by continuing in a more mellow direction, straying further away from the blackgaze metal found in other works like Sunbather and Roads to Judah. On this 2018 release, Deafheaven channels a Godspeed-esque post rock sound, delivering many 9-10 minute masterpieces that perfectly shift between ambience and harsh riffs—making for just over an hour of dynamic and charged music

Vocally, George Clarke is in the prime of his career here, delivering one of his strongest performances. While I don’t revisit this album as often as the next three, it still holds some of my favorite songs from them.

Songs to hear: “Canary Yellow, You Without End

#3: New Bermuda (2015)

Kicking off the top three albums, we have New Bermuda. While I don’t consider it Deafheaven's best, it’s definitely the one I keep coming back to. I often find myself listening to it all the way through without skipping a track. To me, this is what I’d call “prime” Deafheaven, along with the next album on this list. The mixing on this album is incredible, especially considering it had to follow Sunbather—a massive act to follow—and it absolutely delivered. The transitions from shoegazy intros into crushing metal riffs backed by Clarke’s screams make it a very enjoyable listen. The songs move between major and minor keys, creating a contrast between light and cheerful to thick and brooding.

In my opinion, this album features most of Deafheaven’s best songs. Even though it has fewer songs than their others, it still cracks the top three. The guitar work from Shiv Mehra and Kerry McCoy is otherworldly, and the variations of riffage make it an enjoyable listen. Final thoughts: “Baby Blue” is the best song in their discography.

Songs to hear: Brought to the Water, Baby Blue

#2: Sunbather (2013)

Let me be honest, this was a tough one. I might look back at this article in a few months with an entirely different list, but there is no denying that Sunbather had to be in the top 2. This is the Deafheaven album that fans and critics pinpoint whenever they hear the band's name.  Deafheaven’s sophomore album builds upon the groundwork laid by Roads of Judah and improves on it in every way. The songwriting is sharper, the drums hit harder, the riffs are more memorable (despite being in standard tuning), and the vocals settle perfectly in this blackgaze classic.

This album is a building block of blackgaze and the post metal genres. It effortlessly flows from track to track. It feels as though every song has that beautiful and melancholic nature the band hoped to capture with their music. Songs like “Dream House” and “The Pecan Tree” dive into chaotic black metal before unraveling into clean endings—moments that genuinely feel like masterpieces

 Songs to hear: Dream House, The Pecan Tree, Vertigo, Sunbather

#1: Lonely People With Power (2025)

I don’t think there was any doubt that when the world heard Deafheaven was dropping an album this year, it was going to be good. The real question for fans, and myself was how Lonely People With Power would stack up against their veteran titan Sunbather. Right now, I have this new release edging out the all-timer, though I do believe they are interchangeable. Fourteen years later, the band delivered some of their best work yet. George Clarke’s vocals have only gotten better with time—stll switching from piercing shrieks to more melancholic tones. This dynamic range makes the album more accessible, even for listeners who don’t usually love black metal and blackgaze.

What gave this album the edge over Sunbather comes down to three things: the opener, the album’s structure, and the guitar work. The title track, “Doberman,” is straight whiplash—easily one of my favorite openers ever and my “Song of the Year” so far. It’s almost thrashy in its guitar work and shows Deafheaven at their heaviest. Beyond just the opener, the structure of the album really stands out to me. It balances intense, heavy moments with the classic melancholy that Deafheaven features throughout their discography 

 I appreciate the interludes as they keep the album flowing.  This is something the band does very well and they make the ambient builds more effective, allowing the heavy sections to hit even harders. Now that we have finished the ranking and reasoning, I could honestly recommend this entire album for you to listen to, but I will just recommend a couple songs. 

Songs to hear: Doberman, Winona, Amethyst, Heathen