Sleep, the legendary stoner doom metal act, have announced their first album in eight years, titled Hempispheres. The band has also unveiled a new single, “The Morrisist,” ahead of the album’s release. Hempispheres will be available digitally on September 3rd and in physical formats on October 30th via Third Man Records, a label founded by Jack White.
The album marks Sleep‘s follow-up to 2018’s The Sciences and is their first album without founding guitarist Matt Pike, who is also known for his work with High on Fire. The revamped lineup features founding singer-bassist Al Cisneros alongside newcomers Bubba Dupree (Void) on guitar and Dale Crover (Melvins) on drums. The LP was recorded at the Melvins‘ studio with longtime engineer Toshi Kasai.
New Music and Tour Dates
“The Morrisist” follows the single “Have Spacesuit Will Travel,” which was unveiled in June and is also included on Hempispheres‘ five-song tracklist. The tune was named Heavy Song of the Week upon its release. Lyrically, “The Morrisist” serves as an ode to the riff, with a reference to Black Sabbath‘s Tony Iommi, often referred to as the godfather of heavy metal.
Along with the new album, Sleep is releasing the Sleep Comic Book via Third Man Books. Issue No. 1 will ship on September 22nd and is available for pre-order. The band will support Hempispheres with a previously announced headlining North American tour that kicks off on September 8th in San Diego and runs through a November 17th show in Washington, D.C.
Album Details and Tour Schedule
The artwork and tracklist for Hempispheres have been revealed, featuring five songs: “Have Spacesuit Will Travel,” “The Morrisist,” “Hempispheres,” “Arrival of the Industry Ships,” and “Whole Wheat Mountain Well Baked.” Sleep‘s 2026 tour dates include stops in major cities such as Phoenix, Dallas, Austin, Denver, and Los Angeles, as well as shows in Canada and the Northeast.
The album can be pre-saved here, and tickets for the tour are available here. With the release of Hempispheres and their upcoming tour, Sleep is set to make a significant impact on the music scene, and fans of the genre are eagerly anticipating the band’s new material and live performances.
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