_{By Danny Kawai}

With their latest EP, Salt Lake alt-rock band Sunfish claims not to be a cult. I, however, am not convinced. With how much these songs have been dominating my mind, the only reasonable explanation is that I’ve been brainwashed by the masterful songwriting. Like the whispers of an eldritch deity, you’ll never be able to get the music of Sunfish is Not a Cult out of your head.

The alternative rock bands of today seem to be obsessed with reviving the sounds of the past, which is why it feels so refreshing to hear something that genuinely sounds new and unique. This freshness has made Sunfish’s flair and style popular in Utah for quite some time, and now after performing with big names in alternative the likes of Badflower and Dead Poet Society, the band is well on their way to becoming a staple of the genre. Each song off this release has a certain element that sets it apart from the rest, but what they all share are impactful riffs, powerful choruses and an overarching theme of longing that anybody striving for a dream, love, or self-worth will connect with.

The synth is really the backbone of this EP, always present but shifting to accent and enhance the emotion of each song. Synthy tones range from thick, distorted and driving to delicate, beautiful and haunting. Layering this over heavy guitars and melodic vocals filled with grit and spite creates a truly distinctive sound. A sound the band has coined as “glitch grunge.”

Now, if you’re like me before listening to this EP and desperately want to know what “glitch grunge” sounds like, all you need to do is listen to the first minute of the opening track “Basement.” It’s like if Alice in Chains was written in a dystopian cyberpunk future. The isolated vocals right before the adrenaline-fueled chorus hits are a perfect example of how to build and release suspense. What I would give to be in the crowd listening to “Basement” when those guitars kick in.

I gotta say my personal favorite off Sunfish is Not a Cult has to be the second track “Karma.” A departure from their normal style, “Karma” is a lighter song about pleading for the winds of change to turn in the singer’s favor. What amazes me about this song is how Sunfish is able to take elements of heavier alternative music and make them feel upbeat and bright. The way they utilize a breakdown and distant scream vocals will have you doing the most cheerful headbang you’ve ever done.

After “Karma,” Sunfish throws you into the absolute groove of “Do it Right.” Funky popping bass is the driving force of this song that is just impossible not to bust a move to. “Do it Right” is a song that feels equally at home in the mosh pit as it does on the dance floor, and I love it. At only the midpoint in the EP the band has already shown you just how versatile their songwriting can be, and they close it out with two anthemic alt rock songs and a melancholic ballad. “Say it to My Face” and “Toss and Turn” are both headbang worthy tracks that would fit in perfectly on any modern alternative playlist, and the final track, “Looking Out,” will make you want to lie face down on your floor and reminisce on the people you’ve loved and the people you’ve lost. 

My only gripe with Sunfish is Not a Cult is that I wish there was more of it. The songs here are raw yet polished and well-designed to grab and keep attention. I hope to see more of this from future projects. The writing of lead member Carter Sears has always connected with me, and I can’t wait to see what he and the rest of Sunfish do next.

I’m still not fully convinced that Sunfish is, in fact, not a cult, but if they are, you can consider me a dedicated follower.

Make sure to follow Sunfish on Instagram. You can listen to “Karma” below!