Saturday 4 November 2017

Somnuri - S/T (Album Review)


Release date: November 10th 2017. Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Somnuri – S/T – Tracklisting

1.Kaizen
2.Inhabitant
3.Same Skies
4.Slow Burn
5.Opaque
6.Welcome The Stranger
7.Pulling Teeth
8.Through The Dead

Members

Justin Sherrell (guitars/vocals)
Phil SanGiacomo (drums)
Drew Mack (bass)

Drums and guitars recorded with Jeff Berner

Review

Somnuri are another one of the rising bands creating a very different sounding style of Sludge/Stoner Metal. As they merge Sludge, Stoner, Noise Rock, Doom, Punk and even Thrash Metal for a heavy cohesive sound. Their debut album is not for the purists but one perhaps for the more experimental hard rock/metal fan who like their music to sound very different and a little edgy at times.

Opening track - Kaizen - is fully formed fast and furious offering with the band providing heavy thrash vocals against a punk driven Sludge/Stoner Metal backdrop that also has elements of Math Rock and Prog Metal to confuse you even more. Even with the music being slightly chaotic, Somnuri do manage to create an easy going atmosphere that reminds me of Torche and Baroness in places. The music maybe different but Somnuri possess a similar environment that only endures you to their music even more.

Second track - Inhabitant - opens with a Southern Sludge/NOLA style riff with the sound being firmly driven by a harsh noise environment. The riffs are plentiful with the harsh and intense growls from lead singer – Justin - allowing the band to show another different side to their music. The clean vocals remind me of Phil Anselmo in places and when you match these against the death style growls, the atmosphere changes into something more primal. The music drifts effortlessly from one genre to the next. Brutally heavy but also with moments of less subtle Psychedelic Stoner Rock.

Third track - Same Skies - is a sludgy thrash driven number which ranks as one of the heaviest songs on the album. It's loud and very ugly in places but the band still add moments of psychedelic sludge/stoner metal that allows this song to be one of the best sounding tracks on the album. Fourth track - Slow Burn - is another song that’s influenced by the legendary NOLA sound but gives way to a more grunge/doom style of music. The vocals are heartfelt and sincere. I wish the band left the harsh growls away on this song. Though the final part of the song sees Somnuri return to their Thrash Metal ways and maybe clean vocals would ruin the moment. Still, I did enjoy the clean vocals the most on this song.

The other songs on the album are just as crazy as the earlier songs. With Somnuri impressing me most on the following two songs - Welcome The Stranger and Through The Dead. As Somnuri finally start to settle down into a more comfortable rhythm and perhaps create some of the albums standout moments.

Somnuri debut album is very experimental throughout and they perhaps draw influences from Tombs and Kvelertak the most. Especially Kvelertak. As they have similar themes and ideas on how to create a song that moves effortlessly across so many different genres. Whilst Kvelertak create a more commercial sound, Somnuri avoid that by sticking to their musical roots and embracing the more "extreme" side of their music.

Somnuri have created a vast and brilliantly heavy experimental album that will hopefully see the band receive the recognition they truly deserve from this release alone. Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Magnetic Eye Records for the promo. Somnuri debut album will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Magnetic Eye Records from November 10th 2017.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp