Thirty years since the release of their breakthrough self-titled album and lead singer Bradley Nowell’s passing, sunburnt reggae punk rockers Sublime are back with an hour-long love-letter to their past, and their home. The band proudly states in their 1996 chill out track “Doin Time”, that they’re “qualified to represent the L.B.C”, a statement that has stood the test of time considering how little they have faltered.
All of the same laid-back stoner rock, soaked in sunlight, Mexican beer and good times, but now, however, there’s a new man at the helm. Jakob Nowell, son of founding member Bradley Nowell, has had been passed the torch seamlessly and with a respect to the band’s past, that makes Until the Sun Explodes even more enjoyable.
Recently I had the pleasure of seeing Sublime’s first ever UK performance. With Slam Dunk 2026’s blisteringly hot weather, seeing the band perform at sunset didn’t feel too far from a party in Long Beach, and with Nowell’s vocal tone so strikingly similar to his father’s, even the old tracks sounded perfect. Until the Sun Explodes utilises this consistency perfectly, opening track “Ensenada” throws you right in where the water’s warm, a familiar sound masterfully played with all of the humour and tight ska rhythms you would expect. Pulling away from the punk energy, the album comes to a close with the title track, feeling like the moment before everyone heads home from the hangout, and Nowell’s vocal performance shines in a way that’s refreshingly clear.
The album as a whole completes a sole objective, celebrating the people you love, miss and the place you all call home. Weaving through peaks and dips in energy and melancholy, the album is the perfect choice for cruising in your car and lifting your spirits, or lying on the beach reminiscing on times gone by. It’s comforting that whether this is the start of a new path for Sublime, or the last farewell, they will never lose themselves.
Listen to "Ensenada":
