It's been three decades since LA reggae-rock cult favourites Sublime last released an album. In that time, there have been several short-lived resurrections through different iterations of the band, but it wasn't until 2023 when Jakob Nowell – son of late original vocalist Bradley Nowell – joined the band that it really felt like there was life in the old Dalmatian yet.

Now, Until The Sun Explodes lands amidst an incredibly important year for the band: one that marks 30 years since that acclaimed self-titled album that brought the world hits like Santeria and What I Got; 30 years since Bradley’s passing; and the year that marks their first ever performances in the UK (at this year's Slam Dunk Festival).

Lead single Ensenada opens the record and immediately it's clear that Jakob is the best person yet to attempt to fill his father’s shoes. That's not to say he's just doing an impression to fit in - he brings his own fun inflections and impassioned deliveries to make his own mark on the music, particularly on the FIDLAR-featuring Backwards.

But before long, Until The Sun Explodes becomes repetitive in every aspect. The melodies and flows are copied-and-pasted throughout the record, and the instrumentals are one-dimensional and interchangeable across any song on the album. Before the halfway mark, the bloat is hard to ignore.

Going into the final quarter of these 50-plus minutes, it somehow gets worse Froggy and What For are incredibly stagnant entries, while Come Correct sounds like Ronnie Radke butchering a track that Skindred would leave on the cutting room floor.

There are some bright spots, like the title-track’s delicate dedication to Bradley, and Wizard providing some hope at the top of the album. But the annoying Favourite Song, or the frankly boring Casino Toarmina, really stick in the craw.

Sublime’s story is one of the most heartbreaking in modern rock, a true ‘what if?’ in alternative music. And while it's great to see the phoenix rise from the ashes, sadly, this phoenix turns out to be more of a lame duck.

Verdict: 2/5

For fans of: Descendents, The Skints, Pennywise

Until The Sun Explodes is released on June 12 via Atlantic

"I'm so proud to be having a role and keeping my father's legacy alive": How Jakob Nowell stepped up to fill his late dad's shoes in Sublime

Thirty years since their last album, SoCal legends Sublime are back with Until The Sun Explodes, and late frontman Bradley Nowell's son Jakob taking up the mic. As he says, none of it's been easy. "It took me a long time to even get to a place where I could handle something this emotionally taxing."