My Diligence currently stands as a trio from the Belgian progressive scene, formed in Brussels in late 2010. The band’s early years were rooted in a rather orthodox vision of prog stoner rock, culminating in a self-titled debut released in 2015. That record, while competent, remains largely inconsequential in hindsight: its reliance on well-worn genre codes offers little insight into what My Diligence would later become. Rather than a foundation, it feels more like a false start—one that the band themselves would soon outgrow.

The real story begins in 2019 with Sun Rose, an album that marks the first decisive shift in My Diligence’s identity and the opening chapter of what can be read as a trilogy.

Clocking in at nine tracks and 37 minutes, Sun Rose adopts a relatively concise format for the genre, yet never feels underdeveloped. The album opens on a slow, hypnotic motif, built on repetition and restraint, gradually drawing the listener into a trance-like state. This initial patience quickly gives way to forward momentum: tempos tighten, structures sharpen, and the music begins to pulse with a newfound urgency.

The influence of bands such as Queens of the Stone Age and Torche is unmistakable—not as mimicry, but as a shared grammar. Like its predecessors, Sun Rose thrives on dense, weighty riffs and an almost physical sense of groove. Track after track, the band demonstrates a growing confidence in its songwriting, allowing riffs to breathe while locking them into precise, muscular arrangements. There is a clear sense of renewal here, as if My Diligence were actively shedding its earlier skin in search of a more defined voice.

One of the album’s most significant evolutions lies in its vocal approach and overall sonic weight. The introduction of harsher vocals and heavier textures adds much-needed grit, reinforcing the music’s emotional core and signaling a conscious departure from the band’s earlier, safer territory. Sun Rose does not merely refine their sound—it reorients it.

Its primary shortcoming lies in the production. The mix and mastering struggle to fully articulate the role and spatial presence of each instrument, resulting in a soundscape that occasionally feels congested. This lack of clarity ultimately undermines the album’s strongest moments, preventing its carefully constructed dynamics from achieving their full impact.

Nevertheless, Sun Rose stands as a turning point: a record that does not yet reach complete maturity, but unmistakably announces the beginning of something more ambitious.