On cathartic fourth album View From The Outside, Sleepwalk step from their nu-gaze beginnings toward progressive yet relatable post-hardcore. Five years since their last full-length and with a radically retooled lineup, the Chicago foursome has elevated its "heavy music for the lighthearted" signature with an expanded sonic palette.
Formed in 2015, Sleepwalk built their rep melding the visceral and cerebral, earning comparisons to Failure, Hum, and Quicksand. Shows with Glassjaw, Thursday, and Nothing spread the word. Guitarist Tyler Gargula joined founder Ryan Davis in 2023, with Marcus Johnson (drums) and Vic Ordonez (bass) solidifying the lineup. In summer 2025, the band signed with MNRK Music Group.
An avalanche of atmosphere and adrenaline, the album decorates Davis's wistful vocals with chiming guitars and battering beats in the spirit of fellow Chicagoans Smashing Pumpkins. Sleepwalk are like The Cure if they'd evolved out of American hardcore rather than British new wave.
Tracked over twelve days at Earth Analog with producer Zac Montez, the album balances gloominess, hooks, and raw emotion. Singles "Sandbox," "Jan 22," and "Shell" lead the way.
