Sunshine Dust
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
Key people | Keshav Dhar, Eric Emery, Krishna Jhaveri, Aditya Ashok, Devesh Dayal |
| Products | Progressive metal music |
Sunshine Dust represents the third full-length release by the progressive metal ensemble Skyharbor, officially launched on September 7, 2018, through eOne Music and Good Fight Music. This album marks the debut of vocalist Eric Emery and drummer Aditya Ashok within the band's lineup.
Recording
The recording process commenced in 2015, accompanied by the release of the single "Out of Time" in August of that year. After issuing two additional singles, "Blind Side" and "Synthetic Hands," the group had initially targeted a mid-2017 release date for Sunshine Dust. Nevertheless, dissatisfaction with the initial recordings led them to completely re-record the album, resulting in a postponement until its eventual release in September 2018.
Reception
Critical response to the album ranged from mixed to positive. SoundFiction emphasized the band's advancement in songwriting, describing Sunshine Dust as an example of "pure compositional excellence." While Distorted Sound acknowledged notable highlights, it criticized the album for being "incredibly safe," encouraging the band to pursue greater innovation to distinguish themselves within the progressive metal genre. Metal Injection praised the technical proficiency but pointed out uneven stylistic transitions and issues with certain choruses. The Sound Board noted that although the album predominantly conforms to conventional progressive metal elements, occasional influences from other genres could appeal to a broader audience. Metal Hammer provided a more favorable review, commending the refreshed lineup and characterizing Sunshine Dust as a continuation of Skyharbor’s consistent record of strong releases.
Track listing
All compositions credited to Skyharbor.
Personnel
Skyharbor
- Keshav Dhar – guitar, sound design
- Eric Emery – lead vocals
- Krishna Jhaveri – bass guitar, synthesizers
- Aditya Ashok – drums, sound design
- Devesh Dayal – guitar
Additional personnel
- Forrester Savell – production, mixing, mastering
- Luke Palmer – co-writer on "Sunshine Dust"
- Randy Slaugh – string arrangements on "Out of Time"