'YUN', The Long-Awaited Album by Canadian Sludge/Hardcore band Pyres Finally Hits Streaming

Canadian sludge/hardcore band PYRES has finally released their long-awaited full-length album, YUN, on Friday, March 7th via Hypaethral Records. This marks their first new music in over a decade, following up their highly praised debut, Year of Sleep.

YUN was recorded, mixed, and produced by Greg Dawson at BWC Studios (OLDE, Sons of Otis, Panzerfaust) during the winter and spring of 2024. The percussion was tracked by Simon Larochette at The Sugar Shack in London, Ontario, while mastering was handled by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (Sleep, YOB, Corrosion of Conformity), delivering a crushing final product. This album showcases a band that has evolved significantly, blending elements of sludge, hardcore, doom, grunge, and post-rock into a dynamic and expansive sound.

[ Photo by Sam Carcasole ]

Heavy Blog Is Heavy raves about the album, saying, “2025 is just beginning, but the psych, stoner, and doom scenes are already thriving… PYRES has quickly jumped to the top of my list. YUN is packed with a fury-driven stoner sound. The band enlisted Andrew Wilson, whose raw, powerful vocals instantly reminded me of Hark (RIP) and made me fall in love with their music. With heavy fuzz, smart but hard-hitting riffs, and a rhythm section that keeps you on your toes, this album has everything you could want.”

You can stream YUN exclusively at Heavy Blog Is Heavy, and also check out PYRES’ videos for “Granular Flow” and “Some, Not All, Came Back” now.

YUN is available digitally, on digipack CD (limited to 300 copies), and on vinyl in two color variants: Shattered Bone (100 copies) and Black (100 copies).Preorders are live now at Hypaethral Records’ webshop and Bandcamp.

Formed in 2010, PYRES started as a trio featuring Andrew Wilson, Devin Lamere, and Matt Sloetjes. They set out to merge the crushing weight of sludge and doom with the intensity of hardcore punk, experimenting with drop B tunings and aggressive songwriting.

As Wilson’s songwriting progressed, melodic and harmonized guitar riffs became a defining trait of their sound. This led to longtime friend Marc Delparte joining the band as a second guitarist, expanding their range with dual harmonies reminiscent of Thin Lizzy and introducing more progressive song structures. By 2011, PYRES had refined their sound and debuted live in Toronto with six powerful tracks that would form the backbone of Year of Sleep.

Their debut album, recorded with Greg Dawson and mastered by Alan Douches, dropped in July 2013 to widespread acclaim. Praised by publications like Decibel, NPR, PopMatters, and Terrorizer, Year of Sleep blended the crushing weight of High On Fire, Crowbar’s intensity, and the melodic evolution of Mastodon and Baroness.

However, before the album’s release, Wilson endured personal tragedy—his sister was lost in a murder-suicide in April 2013, followed by his father’s passing exactly a year later. The band continued performing, but the weight of grief and mental health struggles stalled momentum. Though they kept writing, the motivation to record a follow-up was buried under the emotional toll.

The COVID-19 pandemic dealt another blow, halting live music and leading to the departure of founding drummer Matt Sloetjes, who stepped away to focus on family. With unfinished material and an uncertain future, PYRES faded into dormancy.

But when live shows returned, so did the band. A chance meeting connected Wilson with drummer Aleks Hara (Sarin), and after a few rehearsals, the chemistry was undeniable—PYRES had found their new drummer.

Wilson reflects, “These songs are deeply personal, and I’m grateful to finally express these traumas and exorcise these demons through the music I love. I hope listeners can find their own meaning or catharsis in the lyrics. We pushed ourselves in terms of dynamics and composition—there’s a real clarity of intent in this record. We kept our signature Maiden/Lizzy harmonies while branching further into doom, grunge, and post-rock. It also features some of our fastest, most intense material, influenced by our punk and hardcore roots. The songs are shorter, with a stronger emphasis on lyrics, vocals, and storytelling.”

Decibel Magazine sums it up best: YUN is proof of PYRES’ resilience, overcoming grief, lineup changes, and years of silence to emerge stronger than ever.