Deafheaven Albums Ranked: Fan Favorites (2025)

Deafheaven carved out their own space in heavy music over the past decade.

Their fusion of black metal ferocity with shoegaze beauty challenged genre boundaries and divided opinion in equal measure.

We're examining the Deafheaven albums ranked through the lens of fan sentiment. What the community cherishes most tells us something vital about this band's evolution.

This ranking reflects which releases resonated deepest with listeners.

We'll also look at how these albums measure up using current popularity data to give you the complete picture of the best Deafheaven albums.

Ranking Deafheaven's albums: The fan favorites

Here's how the albums stack up based on fan sentiment, community discussions, and overall buzz.

We're starting with the most beloved.

1. Sunbather (2013)

Sunbather is the second studio album by Deafheaven, recorded in just several days in January 2013 at The Atomic Garden Recording Studio.

The recording brought drummer Dan Tracy into the fold as a permanent member.

While heavily influenced by black metal, the album drew comparisons to shoegaze, post-rock, and alternative rock. Its melancholic songs feature Wall of Sound arrangements topped with George Clarke's reverb-soaked screaming.

Released in June 2013, it received universal critical acclaim. Metacritic acknowledged it as "the best-reviewed major album" of the year.

It has since been ranked as one of the best albums of the 2010s.

Key tracks:

• Dream House
• Sunbather

Taking the top position in our fan-driven ranking, Sunbather clearly represents a watershed moment for Deafheaven's devoted following.

Its seamless blend of beauty and brutality set a new standard that continues to define the band's identity.

2. New Bermuda (2015)

New Bermuda is the third studio album by Deafheaven, released on October 2, 2015 through the Anti- record label.

The album was recorded live in April 2015 with producer Jack Shirley at 25th Street Recording in Oakland and Atomic Garden Recording in Palo Alto.

The cover art features an oil painting by Allison Schulnik.

Critics praised the album universally. At Metacritic, it received an average score of 85 based on 17 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim."

Key tracks:

• Brought to the Water
• Luna

Securing the number 2 spot, New Bermuda is viewed by many fans as a perfect follow-up that doubled down on intensity.

Its rawer, darker approach demonstrated the band's willingness to evolve while maintaining their core sound.

3. Lonely People With Power (2025)

Lonely People with Power is the sixth studio album by Deafheaven, released on March 28, 2025, through Roadrunner Records.

It was the band's first album since joining the label in 2024.

Having abandoned black metal elements on 2021's Infinite Granite, this album saw Deafheaven return to their blackgaze sound.

Like its predecessor, the album was produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen and recorded at EastWest Studios in Hollywood. It features additional vocal contributions from Boy Harsher's Jae Matthews and Interpol's Paul Banks.

At Metacritic, it received an average score of 85 based on 16 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim."

Key tracks:

• Heathen
• Doberman

Landing at number 3, Lonely People With Power represents a triumphant return to form for many fans.

The record's balance between heaviness and melody showcases the band's matured songwriting abilities.

4. Ordinary Corrupt Human Love (2018)

Ordinary Corrupt Human Love is the fourth studio album by Deafheaven, released on July 13, 2018 through Anti-.

The title was inspired by Graham Greene's 1951 novel The End of the Affair.

The album was recorded at 25th Street Recording in Oakland with longtime collaborator Jack Shirley producing.

At Metacritic, it received an average score of 85 based on 26 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim."

Critics praised the band for continuing to traverse genre borders and create transcendent music.

Key tracks:

• You Without End
• Near

At number 4, Ordinary Corrupt Human Love showcases Deafheaven's experimental ambitions reaching new heights.

Fans appreciate its cinematic scope and the band's incorporation of guest contributions that add emotional depth.

5. Roads to Judah (2011)

Roads to Judah is the debut studio album by Deafheaven, released by Deathwish Inc. on April 26, 2011.

It was recorded in four days between December 2010 and January 2011.

This is Deafheaven's only studio album with guitarist Nick Bassett, who left the band in 2012 to focus on his shoegaze project Whirr.

The album title references N Judah, one of the busiest lines in the San Francisco transit system. Lyrically, the album addresses Clarke's substance abuse.

Key tracks:

• Violet
• Unrequited

Positioned at number 5, Roads to Judah holds special significance as the album that introduced Deafheaven's vision to the world.

Many fans cherish its raw, unpolished energy that captured the band's early promise.

6. Infinite Granite (2021)

Infinite Granite is the fifth studio album by Deafheaven, released on August 20, 2021, through Sargent House.

The album represents a departure from the black metal influences of previous albums. It shifted toward a shoegaze style with mostly clean vocals from George Clarke.

The album was produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen and recorded with Jack Shirley at Atomic Garden East studio in Oakland.

At Metacritic, it received an average score of 82 based on 21 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim."

Key tracks:

• Great Mass of Color
• In Blur

Ranking at number 6, Infinite Granite clearly divided the fanbase with its dramatic stylistic shift.

While critics praised its ambition, some longtime fans struggled with the near-complete absence of the aggression that defined earlier works.

Picked your top Deafheaven classic? Check out Deafheaven's discography on their Roll The Record Artist hub.

Deafheaven albums: A look at popularity data

While fan sentiment paints a rich picture, current popularity data can offer another interesting angle.

This looks at an artist's discography through a different lens.

Below is a ranking of Deafheaven's albums based on their popularity scores from available data. This reflects which releases are currently seeing significant engagement.

Quick FAQs about Deafheaven's albums

Q: What made Sunbather such a critically acclaimed album?

A: Sunbather received universal critical acclaim for its blend of black metal intensity with shoegaze beauty. Metacritic acknowledged it as "the best-reviewed major album" of 2013, and it has since been ranked as one of the best albums of the 2010s.

Q: How long did it take to record Sunbather?

A: The album was recorded in just six days in January 2013 at The Atomic Garden Recording Studio. Each day of recording took approximately eight hours of focused work.

There we have it – our comprehensive look at Deafheaven albums ranked through multiple perspectives.

Fan devotion and current engagement metrics each reveal different facets of this band's impact.

Music rankings remain inherently subjective. The best Deafheaven album for you depends on which sonic territory resonates most deeply with your own experience.

Whether you gravitate toward the groundbreaking Sunbather or the polarizing Infinite Granite, each record captures a distinct moment in the band's journey.

Where would you place these albums in your personal ranking?