SANHEDRIN has spent the past decade at the forefront of American heavy metal, fusing traditional metal and hard rock with a fresh, modern energy and perspective. Their 2022 album, Lights On, received critical acclaim as their most fully realized work to date. Now, with their follow-up, Heat Lightning, the band delivers a dynamic collection of songs that showcase their diverse influences, elevated by a new level of production.

“Sonically, there‘s no comparison,” notes drummer Nathan Honor when asked how Heat Lightning compares to the band‘s previous efforts. “Heat Lightning is the fullest representation of the power of this band. When you take three seasoned musicians with their favourite handpicked instruments, put them in front of two brilliant producer/engineers in a studio stacked with incredible equipment and no outside distractions, this is what you get.”

For Heat Lightning, SANHEDRIN chose to break from tradition and work with a new team in a different setting, departing from their previous three albums, which were all tracked and mixed by Colin Marston. This time, they headed to the legendary Utopia Bearsville studio in Woodstock, New York, where they collaborated with producers Matt Brown (Life of Agony, A Pale Horse Named Death) and Jerry Farley (Sick Of It All, Madball), who led the recording and co-production process.

The title Heat Lightning comes from the album’s second track of the same name. “’Heat lightning‘ is a flash of lightning from very far away, sometimes seen in a clear sky,” explains vocalist and bassist Erica Stoltz. “It is used as a metaphor for where we see ourselves at the moment in relation to climate change. Collectively we have moved further away from our direct relationship to nature and have adopted a paternal relationship with the natural world, as if we have control.” One of the first songs written for the album, it remains one of the band’s most dynamic compositions.

Elsewhere, The Fight Of Your Life serves as a tribute to lifelong musicians. “It‘s about the compulsion to play music no matter what. When you get the bug and you have it for life, it is your north star, your reason to be,” says Stoltz. Meanwhile, Franklin County Line, the album’s fastest track, was inspired by guitarist Jeremy Sosville’s hometown and its surroundings in northern New York. Sosville recalls, “Erica and Nathan came up to visit me and work on new music. In the process, we wrote a song inspired by the local Amish population but with a naughty twist.”

The album kicks off with Blind Wolf, a hard-hitting, heavy metal stomper that also serves as its lead single. Lyrically, the song draws from the band’s shared fascination with cults. “The blind wolf symbolizes losing your animal instincts as a result of adopting someone else’s belief system,” says Stoltz. With its relentless energy and pounding rhythm, the track was the natural choice to open the album. “We knew as soon as the song was complete that it should open the record,” adds Sosville. “It really sets the tone for the journey the listener is about to take with this album.”

“This album is a symbol of persistence during hard times, friendship through music, and the unwavering desire to do our best work together,” says Sosville. “After a decade of being a band, we are proud that we continue to push ourselves to new places sonically and musically. We hope the listener can hear our sincerity and our dedication when listening to this new collection of songs.”

Heat Lightning Track Listing:
1. Blind Wolf
2. Heat Lightning
3. Above The Law
4. The Fight Of Your Life
5. King Of Tides
6. Franklin County Line
7. Let‘s Spill Some Blood
8. High Threshold For Pain
9. When The Will Becomes The Chain

Heat Lightning, which features the striking hand-painted cover art of band friend and fervent supporter Johan Prenger, will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:

180g Black
Violet Blue Marbled
Ruby Red Marbled (Ltd. 500)
White, Purple Splatter (Ltd. 200)

Find preorders at https://eyesoremerch.com/bands/s/sanhedrin/

SANHEDRIN Live:
US
20-22/03/25 US – Houston – Hell´s Heroes
30/03/25 US – Tulsa – Bangover Brunch
26/04/25 US – Pittsburgh – Mr. Small Funhouse
 
EU
22/05/25 DE – Stuttgart – Schwarzer Keiler w/ SAVAGE MASTER
23/05/25 NL – Breda – Sonddog w/ SAVAGE MASTER
25/05/25 BE – Diest – Hell w/ SAVAGE MASTER
26/05/25 DE – Hamburg – Logo w/ SAVAGE MASTER
28/05/25 SE – Järfälla/Stockholm – Klubb Fredagsmangel w/ SAVAGE MASTER
30/05/25 SE – Gothenburg – Abyss w/ SAVAGE MASTER
31/05/25 SE – Alvesta – Muskelrock Festival
03/06/25 DE – Frankfurt – Nachtleben w/ SAVAGE MASTER
05/06/25 DE – Kassel – Goldgrube
06/06/25 DE – Gelsenkirchen – Rock Hard Festival
07/06/25 DE – Oldenburg – MTS Records
08/06/25 UK – London – Cart & Horses
 
SANHEDRIN:
Erica Stoltz – vocals, bass
Jeremy Sosville – guitars, vocals
Nathan Honor – drums, percussion
 
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