Stoned Jesus are true trailblazers. While often associated with the stoner crowd, the heavy progressive rockers have experimented with folk, prog, pop and alternative rock amidst familiar doses of doom. Last year, the band entered the first phase of an expansive album trilogy that promises to take them from the sun to the moon and back. Songs to Sun was named one of the best albums of 2025 by Doom Charts, Rock Hard, The Obelisk and other outlets. Now, as frontman Igor Sydorenko and his bandmates prepare to blaze through the European summer festival circuit, they’re cycling into the next phase of their evolution.
Today, Stoned Jesus are releasing a new single. Though packed with the band’s reliable dose of heaviness, the progressive post-metal contained within “Under the Skin” shows them entering the darkest, most daring and deeply moving territory of their 17-year career.
“Our upcoming album trilogy started last year with Songs to Sun, which is a loud and heavy album that’s big on choruses and meaty riffs”, Sydorenko says before turning to Stoned Jesus’ latest single. “‘Under the Skin’ begins our next phase in a somewhat similar fashion, but with a sinister twist. The fans of the very first SJ demo will recognize the influence of post-metal, which resurfaced after our tour last summer with the legendary Cult of Luna. But “Under the Skin” is not a step back. It’s darker, bolder and more introspective than anything the band has done before”.
Watch the music video for “Under the Skin” below.
Stream “Under the Skin”
https://orcd.co/stonedjesusundertheskin
On the surface, “Under the Skin” picks up right where Stoned Jesus left off. The sinking anxiety that swallowed Songs to Sun gives way here to heavy breathing. And while catchy as ever, the song’s weighty riff isn’t the only dark force that’s rattling inside Sydorenko’s head. “I feel it, it’s creeping in”, he strains, backed by bassist Andrew Rodin, who adds some of the harshest vocals the band have ever pressed to wax.
The video for “Under the Skin” was filmed while Stoned Jesus were recording in Cologne, Germany at Goblin Sound Studio with sound engineer Andy Rosczyk (ex-Ultha). Despite the song’s bleary state of mind (“Promises to keep / I will never sleep”), the band never lose their glow. As drummer Yurii Ciel guides them through a proggy middle passage that leads deeper into the shadows, we catch a glimpse not only into their psyche but the shape of what’s to come. “Sky glider, gone wilder / With the setting sun”.
The video for “Under the Skin” was edited by Marco Menestrina.
Catch Stoned Jesus this summer on the European festival circuit.
Stoned Jesus 2026 European Festival Dates
June 4 - Nepthen, Germany @ Freak Valley [TICKETS]
June 19 - Clisson, France @ Hellfest [TICKETS]
June 27 - Betanzos, Spain @ Fumega Fest [TICKETS]
July 3 - Gisors, France @ Kave Fest [TICKETS]
July 11 - Trieste, Italy @ StonerKras Fest [TICKETS]
August 8 - Rome, Italy @ Roma Stone Fest [TICKETS]
August 29 - Teramo, Italy @ Suburbiae Festival [TICKETS]
September 25 - London, UK @ StoomFest [TICKETS]
Songs to Sun is out now on Season of Mist.
Order
Songs to Sun arrived in 2025 as the first album in a forthcoming trilogy that once complete, will stand as the pinnacle of what's been a decades-long trip for Stoned Jesus. While picking up where Father Light left off, Sydorenko and his new mates nodded to Seven Thunders Roar and The Harvest along the way. But by merging metal's fiery intensity with mind-melting grooves, vintage prog and their catchiest choruses yet, they brought the many distinct phases of Stoned Jesus to a bright, burning head. The album was named one of the best the year by Doom Charts, Rock Hard, The Obelisk, Weedian, Metal Lair and other outlets.
In 2026, Stoned Jesus are moving into the darkest, most daring and deeply moving phase of their career, starting with the band’s latest single "Under the Skin”.
Recording Lineup
Igor Sydorenko - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Andrew Rodin - Bass, Backing Vocals
Yurii Ciel - Drums, Backing Vocals
Live Lineup
Igor Sydorenko - Vocals, Guitar
Andrew Rodin - Bass, Backing Vocals
Ihor Biriuchenko - Drums, Percussion
Production Credits
Producer - Igor Sydorenko
Sound Engineer - Andy Rosczyk
Mixing and Mastering Engineer - Karl Daniel Lidén
Recording Studio
Goblin Sound Studio in Cologne, Germany
Mixing and Mastering Studio
Studio Tri-Lamb, Sweden
Cover Art
Vadym "Karaska" Karasiov
Follow Stoned Jesus
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/stonedjesusband
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/stoned-jesus/396799004
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/23lyMLxYNPS15hpVvFNptR
Instagram: instagram.com/stonedjesusband
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YouTube: youtube.com/c/StonedJesus
Bandcamp: stonedjesus.bandcamp.com