SINGLE REVIEW: Sun God Motel – Fading Dominion

One part Sacramento based progressive metal outfit, one part gatekeepers of a motel between all universes; in the midst of an endless black infinity, we are once more invited to take heed of what plays on the jukebox of the Sun God Motel.

After their colossal debut single ‘Ancestral Recall’ released earlier this year, Sun God Motel have returned with another sprawling sampling of their conceptual musical reckoning, with ‘Fading Dominion’. Almost a fable, the tale spun is one of a man seeking the knowledge of everything to validate his own limited perception of the world, only to be torn apart by the sheer scope of everything that the human mind was never made to embrace; a parable that runs parallel to our own modern world, with an everything of our own ever present in our pockets, showing us more than perhaps we were ever supposed to deal with.

Commencing with shrill, discordant guitar picking layered over thundering, chunky riffs and percussion, the track consistently and carefully straddles the line between raw, heavy aggression, and dreamy, progressive ambience. The synths that glimmer distantly in the musical background, accompanied with the far more melodic vocals compared to ‘Ancestral Recall’, gives the choruses of the track a distinct 80’s movie vibe in all of the best ways; grand, colourful, and cinematic.

Despite its lengthy, multifaceted nature, the track remains both captivating and catchy throughout, never once losing any momentum, nor does it ever get bogged down by its own enormity. Sun God Motel clearly have fun with their music and concept, and that translates in their sound, with meaningful themes explored in genuinely creative ways. It’s progressive and technical, but never dull or boring.

There’s a mystique about Sun God Motel that makes them fascinating to behold, and thankfully, their music is befitting of such an ambitious concept. ‘Fading Dominion’ marks two-for-two for the duo, and with big plans lying in wait for the rest of 2023, it’s exciting to wonder where the Motel may take us next. Don’t forget to check in on time.

For Fans Of: The Dear Hunter, Sleep Token, Thrice, Spiritbox

Follow the band on social media below:

Instagram // Spotify // Bandcamp // TikTok