Coming off the intensity of their debut EP I, which dropped earlier this year, HAUNTU is making a bold return with “Sadist Sun,” the lead single from their forthcoming full-length album.
The track builds on the urgency and emotional weight established in their earlier releases like “End of Days” and “Panic,” offering a reflection on life in the shadow of post-pandemic capitalism and global instability.
HAUNTU doesn’t flinch when it comes to tackling big themes—fear, dread, the crushing weight of survival—but this time, they frame it all within the context of a volatile lovers’ quarrel, providing both catharsis and release.
HAUNTU’s offering is unapologetically dark and heavy, drenched in the tension of metal and goth influences but with a raw, garage-rock edge.
Drawing inspiration from bands like WIPERS and HOT SNAKES, the band employs relentless, fast downstroked guitars that hammer straight to the gut. But what sets them apart—what gives them their unmistakable identity—is the melodic, almost ethereal quality of their female vocals. These lush vocal layers contrast sharply against the aggression of the instrumentation, creating a hauntingly beautiful soundscape that is as dangerous as it is captivating.
HAUNTU’s activity coincides with what many are calling a renaissance in the San Diego music scene. Legendary names like BLACK HEART PROCESSION, ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT, and NO KNIFE have been stirring again, while newer acts like SCHIZOPHONICS are gaining national attention.
The city is buzzing with fresh energy, with underground bands like WITNESS, WITCH FACE, VICE ALGAE, OWL BE DAMNED, and SCARY PIERRE, NANOBEL, and NONEXISTENT NIGHT redefining what’s possible in live performance. San Diego’s status as a “little border town” might soon be a distant memory as word spreads about the sheer talent brewing there.
HAUNTU is not an outsider in this environment—they’re integral to it. Their members have roots in a who’s who of influential acts, including TULPA LUNA/WARSAW, HOLY TEARS, ISLAND OF THIEVES, and THE DROPSCIENCE.
Their pedigree speaks to a wealth of experience and experimentation, but it’s their cohesion as HAUNTU that has launched them into a class of their own.
For HAUNTU, “Sadist Sun” has been a labor of love and persistence. Originally written over two years ago, the track has undergone more revisions than any other song in their catalog. Early versions struggled to find their footing, and it wasn’t until the band decided to transpose the song into a different key—dropping it down a half-step—that everything fell into place.
