Release Date: June 03rd 2022. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Nemesis Lately - Tracklisting
1. Snake Eyes
2. Lacquer Bones
3. Dice And Scarecrow
4. L-Dopatryptamine
5. Rubber Tramp
6. Calm Is The Devil
Members
Evan - Guitars & vocals
Ansel Bretz - Bass
Matt Davis - Drums
Review
Somnus Throne are back with their second album Nemesis Lately and the band have joined forces with Heavy Psych Sounds for this release. After releasing their brilliant and criminally overlooked self titled debut album in 2020, the guys return with another round of paranoia based LSD induced grooves and seedy WEEDIAN sounds on this release.
Nemesis Lately is a very different Somnus Throne that we encountered on their debut album. As this album is less seedier, scuzzier and has more elements of cleaner Psychedelic parts compared to their debut album. Even the vocals are cleaner, more focused and the music perhaps moves away from the Electric Wizard/Black Sabbath template of Doom/Stoner Metal with the band bringing influences such as Dead Meadow and The Doors in places.
The album opens up with Snake Eyes that has a soundbyte from The Wolf Of Wall Street I believe that perfectly sets the tone not only for the song but for the entire album. Heavy Psych Stoner Rock combines with a cleaner FUZZIER approach with the band leaving the "Drone" aspect from their last album to the bare minimum. Somnus Throne play a cleaner and more progessive approach to their music with this song having a classic gloomy "DOOM" approach with the instrumental work being more direct. This allows the band to play in different timelines of Doom/Stoner Metal with a modern feeling throughout. The song does become quite seedy towards the end but allows Somnus Throne to play a more exciting style of music.
Second song Lacquer Bones is another cautionary "DRUG" based song sees that Somnus Throne bring an "Alice In Chains'' narrative to this song when blended with some epic sounding grungy Stoner style riffs. The song is very multi-layered with different levels of FUZZ moving between the slightly distorted WEEDIAN riffs contained on the song. The song does highlight very important points about DRUG ADDICTION and the Pharmaceutical Industry, so please take notice of the excellent lyrics and stunning 60s/70s sounding based vocals.
Somnus Throne goes further down the rabbit hole for the remainder of this release. With the band bringing a more distorted and droned out nature to the album. The LSD Trippy Influence of the album is undeniable especially on the excellent third song - Dice And Scarecrow.
This song is perhaps closes to what Somnus Throne released on their last album. Expect dark and twisted Psychedelic FUZZ ROCK sounds with an almost consistently engaging Noise Rock based Doom/Stoner Metal flavour allowing Somnus Throne to have some epic jams on this song. One of the standout tracks on the album.
Three songs down and three songs to go with Somnus Throne not moving from their "LSD" creative approach for this album. The second half of the album does see the band go more doomier and way out there with their nightmarish free-flowing Psychedelic Rock approach that you can hear brilliantly well on fourth song L-Dopatryptamine.
L-Dopatryptamine does see the band play a beautifully uplifting Psych Rock score but appearances are always deceiving when Somnus Throne is concerned. This song is boosted by wonderfully dark lyrics and slightly distorted vocals when matched with the "upbeat" Psych Stoner Metal parts. Once again, the band excels by playing epic guitar jams that are highly original towards the later stages of the song.
The final two songs Rubber Tramp and Calm Is The Devil allow Somnus Throne to play other daring styles of Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal that ultimately leave you wanting more. Rubber Tramp perhaps is the most interesting of the final two songs. As this has the more "thrilling" and "creative" style of music but both songs allow this album to end on a "MIGHTY FUCKING HIGH".
Nemesis Lately has first rate production values which really isn't a surprise since this is a Heavy Psych Sounds release. However, the album sounds wonderful and credit still must be given to the people involved with the recording of this album.
Somnus Throne have outdone themselves with Nemesis Lately. As this album outdoes everything they achieved and accomplished with their debut release. This is a far more rewarding and adventurous album that has a first rate narrative with better grooves to match.
This is another "Album Of The Year" contender from Somnus Throne who are becoming one of my favourite upcoming bands within the Doom/Stoner Metal underground.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR for the promo.
Nemesis Lately will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from June 03rd 2022.
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