Review: Stoned Jesus ‘Songs To Moon’
In all the years I have been writing for The Shaman, there have been a few bands for whom I have been the regular reviewer. Amongst those acts, there is one I have championed time and time again – a band I have watched grow with each new opus. Even the arrival of conflict in their homeland doesn’t seem to have prevented them from evolving as they have grown, and on this latest release, they have taken another step into a bolder arena. For most, these monumental stumbling blocks could have forced them to step back and focus on life closer to home; yet the power of the music and the passion in the playing have driven them on.
A year ago, to much applause, they released Songs To Sun, the beginning of a trilogy of concept albums; now, at the tail end of 2026, they are releasing the second instalment Songs To Moon.
Before we begin, I will state that I may well be a bit biased, and as such this review might come across like I am somewhat of a fanboy. That’s entirely because I am, but I’m not going to let it stop me from giving an honest assessment of the work.
Stoned Jesus is the one band I have been desperately wanting to see live for years, yet I’ve still not had the opportunity. They were due to headline the Friday night of Stoomfest 2026 but unfortunately had to cancel at the eleventh hour, so those pesky guys eluded me again. I have known of them for a decade, and at this point it’s becoming somewhat personal (I jest, even if I am dying a little inside – Haha). That aside, I will soldier on and provide a fair and balanced review for your perusal.
Songs To Moon picks up where Songs To Sun left off, continuing down a path of refinement and growth. It isn’t so much a departure as it is an understanding of growing within their environment – something I think they have always proficiently achieved. Most bands set out to find their definitive sound and then sit happily on that manifesto forever. Stoned Jesus choose to progress and mature alongside their audience over the years. It feels like an honest, considered portrayal of a band stepping forward, not sideways.
Across the seven tracks, they take a bold leap and shift their familiar dynamic even further. They are less heavy, trippy, ten-plus minute hazy thrill rides or power-led statement pieces, and more individual powerhouses. It’s a mixing of ideas and a fearless leap into the realms of more widely accessible, if not more consumer-appropriate, sonnets. The intensity and constant angst have dropped off, replaced by an altogether more robust series of songs. Beautifully transcribed and executed, it showcases just how far Stoned Jesus have come as an entity.
an honest, considered portrayal of a band stepping forward, not sideways…
For example, Syzygy is an emotionally charged instrumental tragedy. Each element is beautifully played, each note woefully laid out, and the ensuing outpouring is sublimely sorrowful. It isn’t a loud and brash shitstorm; think more Mono than Ministry, and you will be right there emotionally. That’s the difference this time round: their versatility and sheer willingness to step outside their comfort zone to create something that excels beyond everything else they have created to this point is ingrained in their DNA, and it shines through.
Right from the opening seconds of track one, Under The Skin, you can feel the change in the seasons, metaphorically speaking. It’s new – and not just new, but a fresh beginning. It’s the band waking up to a new day and showing the world exactly what they are capable of.
It’s a beautifully fractured album. You can see the wounds, but it stands proud and fearless. A shift in personnel has helped keep things vibrant, and I truly feel that where the band have landed this time round is the very best incarnation of them as a whole. It feels organically right, as if they have been together forever, and the sheer vibrancy across the recording is majestic.
This isn’t an album where you can pick favourite parts, tracks, or passages – it transcends that entirely. It’s a uniquely beautiful experience from start to finish and should be a must for every household. This is the sound of a band making it to where they deserve to be. It’s the type of record we all consider essential in a collection, and I implore everyone who has read this far to invest your time into it – its sheer gravity is immeasurable.
Stoned Jesus have done the unthinkable and created a truly career-defining masterpiece. Wherever they go from here, this is the marker for where it started – the path to righteousness – and I strongly believe this will trigger the next level for the band, 1000 percent.
Label: Season Of Mist
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Lee Beamish
