Bad Sun's "Infinite Joy" [Review]

It’s been about a year since I last covered one of my favorite bands, Bad Suns, and a lot has changed since the band released their 4th studio album “Apocalypse Whenever”. Back on June 13th, 2022, the band announced that guitarist Ray Libby, would no longer be touring with the band. While this was announced via the band’s social media pages, that post has since been deleted. Luckily the post was archived. Libby has also made a post on his Twitter account regarding the situation a few days later. Since then, Libby has left the band proper and started his own project called Mirror Figure later that year. While unfortunate, the band has kept things rather private on this matter and ended up releasing an EP this year as a trio.

Released on November 17th, 2023, “Infinite Joy” is a collection of 6 songs, 3 of which were previously released as singles leading up to the debut.

In a press release by the band’s label, Epitaph, lead singer, guitarist, and frontman, Christo Bowman reveals that “Infinite Joy” is a collection of songs that reflect all of the emotions he’s felt over the past year. After a decade-long battle with alcohol abuse, Bowman finally got clean in October 2022. In the following months, Bowman said that he’s experienced a decade of growth since. The EP gets its title from Carl Sagan’s “Contact” in which Bowman first read the phrase.

Starting the EP off is “Lunar Shadows” a song that feels straight out of the early/mid-2000s with the intro guitar riffs. While we do get to a familiar sound from the band in the chorus, it’s a nice touch hearing some funky guitars throughout this piece. We’ll be seeing the themes of alcoholism as well as the growth Bowman experienced during the past few months. The line “Hey, drinks on me literally. It’s time to clean up my act” is a bit of a nod to that, but there is another meaning as well. This track is also a bit of a breakup anthem, and seeing how much life can improve after turning things around and bettering yourself.

The first single released off of this EP was “The One I Used To Love”. It’s a song about Bowman’s struggle with addiction. Addiction is a fickle thing to deal with. While many different problems can arise from having an addiction, there’s also the fact that one can find comfort in that addiction. Having something to distract you from the rest of the world and just lose yourself in can be more comforting than anything else. This track is about that struggle, and while Bowman is still at odds with his addiction, his outlook on life is renewed. This might be the best track on the EP, with how solid the instrumentation is, each piano and guitar chord hit just right. The drums are on point and Bowman’s vocals are wonderful as always. Hearing his vocals in the background during the bridge is expertly done.

In a press release, Bowman explains that “Astral Plans” comes from a place of frustration. He explains that he had a falling out with someone close to him, and while this can easily be inferred, he goes on to say that he tried to make the relationship work over a few years. Despite this, things didn’t end up working and it resulted in the other person cutting Bowman out of their life completely. Once Bowman realized that he “couldn’t be mad at this person forever”, he felt liberated and this song is dedicated to that. Lyrically, the song tells the story of a soldier coming home from war and realizing that their partner has cheated on them. It’s a funky tune with some great little stings along the way. It feels like a natural evolution after the band’s previous album.

“Everything Is…” starts off with a calming little riff before picking up. It’s an upbeat pop song with some wistful 80’s synths that make it feel right off of “Apocalypse Whenever”. Despite the cheery nature, the lyrics discuss how “Everything Is Fucked”. While things might not be going the right way right now, our singer is hopeful for what the future holds, looking for another chance, and giving things one more try.

“Just To Feel Your Touch” is a delightful R&B jam with a really funky baseline. The synths during the instrumental breaks really make you think that this song is straight out of the 80s. In an interview with Atwood Magazine, Bowman says that this song was inspired by the words “I love you, I hate you, I miss you” which he read on the spine of a book. The track deals with the themes of love, how you’ll do anything for someone, but the minutia of a relationship is hard to keep up with at times. Striking a balance between things can be difficult at times, but in the end, love might just be worth it.

The final song on this EP, and the last one to be released as a single, “Living Or Dying” is a song about Bowman’s fiancée. Bowman got engaged to his now fiancée, Allison, in 2022, and this song is about all of those feelings. To quote Bowman, “Living a life in a state of fear or regret is hardly living. Life is too beautiful to waste.” It’s a slow jam closer to this record and an emotionally charged one at that. Watching his partner leave her job to pursue her master’s and seeing her take on life head-on was inspiring for him and you can feel it in the record.

Final Thoughts

Despite the band losing a core member of their team, Bad Suns has continued to innovate and iterate on their music. I can’t wait to see what’s next from the band and if this EP says anything, it’s that they’ll continue to grow and grow no matter the odds.

References:
Atwood Magazine: Bad Suns Bask in the Glow of ‘Infinite Joy’ - Atwood Magazine
Epitaph: Bad Suns Share New Single & Lyric Video “Astral Plans” | Epitaph Records
Epitaph: Bad Suns Announce New Project ‘Infinite Joy’ Out Nov. 17th | Epitaph Records

EP Score: 8/10
Favorite Tracks: “The One I Used To Love”, “Everything Is…”

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