The Obelisk published a review of Valley of the Sun's sixth album The Blacklight Sessions on 24 September 2026. The Cincinnati heavy psych trio releases the record 2 October via Heavy Psych Sounds. Reviewer JJ Koczan notes the band's deliberate loosening of their typically taut songwriting, highlighting the 10-minute "The Long Song" and the extended closers "Mountain" (9:40) and "No Hope" (8:16) as evidence of a more expansive, jam-inflected approach. The six-track, 41-minute set was produced by longtime collaborator John Naclerio and opens with the instrumental "The Whiskey Elf", a bluesy desert-rock piece channelling Ten Years After and Grand Funk Railroad. The advance single "Low Not Slow" premiered in August. Valley of the Sun — Ryan Ferrier (guitar/vocals), Chris Sweeney (bass), Johnny Kathman (drums) — embark on an extensive European tour from October through November 2026. Artwork is by Jarrod Warf.