Released: 2026
Genres: Ska Punk, Reggae Rock, Alternative Rock, Dub
The Musiquarium’s Until the Sun Explodes Review Score: 7.5 out of 10
Arriving 30 years after the death of Bradley Nowell and the release of Sublime’s self-titled final album, Until the Sun Explodes features Jakob Nowell filling-in for his father, on this heartfelt tribute and thank you to him. Accompanying Jakob Nowell are the two surviving members of Sublime, Bud Gaugh (drums) and Eric Wilson (bass), making this the closest thing possible to having the original Sublime lineup.
The opening track Ensada was released as a single last year and did away with any doubt that Jakob would be unworthy of standing in his dad’s shoes, in fact, it’s almost uncanny how similar he sounds to his father — you have to remind yourself that it’s 2026 and not 1996. Trey’s Song features H.R. of the legendary hardcore punk band, Bad Brains. Casino Toarmina is a delicate acoustic folk detour.
247-369 is a punky number similar to 40oz. to Freedom‘s We’re Only Gonna Die for Our Arrogance, with Come Again being reminiscent of that album’s opener, Waiting for My Ruca. The three Maybe Partying Will Help songs are musique concrète style interludes that unfortunately don’t amount to much. Thanx Again is the spiritual successor to Sublime’s debut’s grateful closing track, Thanx.
From the artwork, which references the iconic cover of 40oz. to Freedom, to the influential blend of ska punk and reggae, the Sublime of Until the Sun Explodes feels no less genuine than the version that Bradley Nowell had left behind in ’96. It may not contain a hit like What I Got or something as classic as Date Rape or Smoke Two Joints, but I’m certain that this album would have made Bradley proud as a father. Until the Sun Explodes is a poetic epilogue to one of the greatest musical losses of the 1990s and a beautiful example of the connection between a son and his father.
For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Sublime on Discogs.
Back to the 2026 Album Guide or the Sublime Album Reviews page.
Written by Brett Nippard
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