By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – Nashville, The tectonic plates of the heavy metal underground are shifting once again as Sleep, the undisputed titans of stoner doom, have officially announced their next studio odyssey. Titled Hempispheres, the upcoming record is slated for release on October 30 via Third Man Records, the boutique label founded by Jack White that has become a sanctuary for the band’s high-fidelity, low-frequency explorations. This announcement marks a pivotal moment in the band’s decades-long history, not only because it serves as the follow-up to their 2018 comeback masterpiece The Sciences, but because it introduces a radical reconfiguration of the band’s internal architecture.
For a group that has long been defined by the singular chemistry of its core members, the news of a lineup change is nothing short of a seismic event in the doom community. Joining the band’s foundational architect, bassist and vocalist Al Cisneros, are two legendary figures from the annals of underground rock: guitarist Bubba Dupree and drummer Dale Crover. Dupree, known for his seminal work with the hardcore-punk innovators Void, brings a jagged, experimental edge to the group’s sound. Crover, meanwhile, is a percussion icon whose work with the Melvins essentially laid the blueprint for the very genre Sleep perfected. Together, this new iteration of the power trio is poised to explore the outer reaches of the "Igg-naut" mythos that has defined Sleep’s lyrical and thematic output since their inception in the San Jose scene of the early 1990s.
The announcement of Hempispheres—a title that tips its hat to both the botanical interests of the band and perhaps a subtle nod to the progressive rock complexities of Rush—comes alongside the release of a new single, "The Morrisist." This track serves as the second preview of the album, following the earlier unveiling of "Have Spacesuit Will Travel." Where "Have Spacesuit Will Travel" offered a propulsive, cosmic voyage through distorted nebula, "The Morrisist" leans into the band’s signature "Sabbathian" crawl. It is a masterclass in tension and release, built upon Cisneros’s pulsating, melodic bass lines and Crover’s thunderous, behind-the-beat drumming. The track suggests that while the personnel has changed, the band’s commitment to the "Sonic Titan" aesthetic remains as unyielding as ever.
The path to Hempispheres has been one of patient cultivation. After the band’s initial dissolution in the late 1990s following the legendary, label-defying struggle over their hour-long opus Dopesmoker, Sleep entered a period of mythic hibernation. During this time, Cisneros formed the meditative, drone-heavy duo Om, while guitarist Matt Pike founded the thrash-influenced High on Fire. When the band eventually reunited for a series of festival appearances in 2009, the appetite for their specific brand of volume-worship had only grown. The surprise release of The Sciences on April 20, 2018, proved that Sleep was not merely a legacy act but a creative force still capable of defining the modern metal landscape.
With Hempispheres, the band appears to be leaning further into the multimedia world-building that has characterized their recent years. Alongside the album, the group has teased an expansive headlining tour and the release of a custom comic book, further fleshing out the lore of the "Marijuanaut"—the weed-obsessed space traveler who serves as the protagonist of their cosmic narratives. This level of immersion is a testament to the band’s unique position in the culture; they are one of the few acts that can bridge the gap between high-concept science fiction, counter-culture iconography, and pure, visceral sonic power.
The inclusion of Dale Crover on drums is particularly noteworthy for longtime students of the genre. Crover’s style—characterized by massive, echoing fills and a sense of "heavy swing"—is a perfect match for the cavernous spaces within Sleep’s compositions. His presence suggests a more improvisational or perhaps more rhythmically complex approach to the new material. Bubba Dupree’s guitar work is equally anticipated. While Matt Pike’s departure marks the end of an era, Dupree’s history with Void indicates a penchant for chaotic, avant-garde textures that could provide a fascinating contrast to Cisneros’s steady, rhythmic mantras.
The tracklist for Hempispheres reveals five sprawling compositions, suggesting that the band is continuing to favor the long-form movements that allow their riffs to breathe and evolve. The titles alone—"Arrival of the Industry Ships" and "Whole Wheat Mountain Well Baked"—evoke the surreal, agrarian-meets-industrial imagery that has become a Sleep trademark. These are not merely songs; they are environments designed to be inhabited at maximum volume. The production, handled through Third Man Records, is expected to emphasize the analog warmth and crushing low-end that audiophiles and "gear-heads" have come to associate with the band’s discography.
Third Man’s involvement is significant. Since partnering with the band for the reissue of Dopesmoker and the release of The Sciences, the label has treated Sleep’s output with the reverence typically reserved for classical archival recordings. The physical editions of Hempispheres are expected to be lavish, likely featuring the intricate artwork of Sam Harris and Travis Shinn, whose photography and illustrations have become synonymous with the band’s visual identity. For a band that sings about "the riff tree" and "the holy mountain," the physical artifact of the vinyl record is an essential part of the ritual.
As Sleep prepares to hit the road next month for their headlining tour, the anticipation within the heavy music community is reaching a fever pitch. The tour will be the first opportunity for fans to witness the new lineup in a live setting, where the true power of their volume-heavy philosophy is realized. Sleep’s live shows are legendary not just for their decibel levels, but for the sense of communal transcendence they evoke. In a world of fleeting digital trends, the band stands as a monolith of permanence, a reminder of the power of the slow, the heavy, and the profound.
The legacy of Sleep is inextricably linked to the evolution of the 21st-century metal scene. Their influence can be heard in the thousands of "doom" and "stoner" bands that have emerged in their wake, yet few have managed to capture the same balance of technical precision and spiritual weight. By bringing in Crover and Dupree, Cisneros is ensuring that Sleep continues to evolve rather than stagnating in its own legend. Hempispheres represents a new chapter in a story that began in a garage in Northern California and has since expanded to the furthest reaches of the musical galaxy.
For the uninitiated, the music of Sleep can be a challenging entry point, requiring a shift in one’s perception of time and melody. However, for those who have followed the "smoke toward the riff-filled land," the announcement of Hempispheres is a homecoming. It is an invitation to once again descend into the depths of the groove and emerge on the other side of the sonic horizon. As October 30 approaches, the message from the Sleep camp is clear: the voyage is far from over, and the industry ships are finally coming home to port.
The full tracklist for Hempispheres is as follows:
- Have Spacesuit Will Travel
- The Morrisist
- Hempispheres
- Arrival of the Industry Ships
- Whole Wheat Mountain Well Baked
Fans are encouraged to prepare their listening environments accordingly. Whether through the upcoming comic book, the sprawling tour dates, or the five tracks of the new LP, the world of Sleep is expanding. In an era of bite-sized content and rapid-fire releases, Sleep remains committed to the slow burn, the deep dive, and the enduring power of the heavy riff. The "Morrisist" has arrived, and the hemispheres are about to align.
