Release Date: October 04th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl
III: Tracklisting
1. Sine Misericordia (0:41)
2. Under The Torturer’s Attention (5:33)
3. Effugium (0:18)
4. Midnight Flight (3:36)
5. To Brave the Desert of Despair (6:48)
6. Legion (7:25)
7. Divide Et Impera (5:18)
8. Seas of Fate (0:31)
9. Dweller on the Threshold (6:31)
Members
Alex Lidey - Guitars
Ben Dubler - Guitars
Adam Sage - Bass
Ian Henneforth - Drums
Review
Las Vegas Psych/Doom/Stoner Instrumentalists release their new album III which is actually their second full length album though their third release overall. Sonolith combines cinematic soundscapes with heavy and highly energetic strands of Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal. They perhaps play a similar style of sound such as famed instrumental heavyweights Clouds Taste Satanic with Sonolith aiming for a more Occult Rock and Freakish sound within the more interesting parts of the record.
III is full of deliciously heavy fuzz rock moments where Sonolith keeps almost everything within a compact and tight circle of solid Doom Rock/Metal foundations. The sound is naturally raw, aggressive and crisp with some vintage recording techniques that allows the mood to be more aligned to albums recorded within the 1970’s and 1980’s than today’s scene. The tone can be quite seedy and psychotic within the gloomiest and heaviest parts of the record which allows Sonolith to be one of the more foreboding bands within the underground instrumental scene.
Sonolith play a mixture of fast-paced Occult Rock grooves which oozes 1970’s Proto-Doom atmospherics and that sublime 1960’s Psych/Freak Rock attitude where the record can be quite jazzy at times especially on the early tracks such as Under The Torturer’s Attention and Midnight Flight.
Don’t expect Sonolith to keep away from the modern day limelight as they inject that aggressive energy into the overall mix of the record especially within the more progressive elements on the record where a kick-ass modern day attitude allows the Stoner Rock/Metal attitude build upto impressive extended instrumental jams with a sludgy undergoove on tracks such as To Brave The Desert Of Despair, Legion and Dweller On The Threshold.
I suppose you could categorise Sonolith primarily as an Instrumental Doom Rock/Metal band rather than a Stoner Rock/Metal one. As the more times you listen to the record you begin to notice small nuances of Occult Doom and gloomy soundbytes having a real powerful effect on how the music is truly delivered. The FUZZ sound transforms into a heavier and sinister sound before Sonolith transform back into a top-notch Stoner Rock band with a classic sounding groove straight from the golden hey-day of 90’s Stoner music.
However, that isn’t surprising with the acts the band have supported and shared the stage with over the last few years since their formation - The Obsessed, Truckfighters, 1000mods, Spaceslug, Nebula, Freedom Hawk, Borracho, Mos Generator, Sasquatch, Mothership, Lord Dying, and many more.
III is a superbly constructed album with a real creative narrative which allows this album to have a beginning, middle and end told through the power of their spellbinding music which sounds excellent throughout.
Sonolith have delivered the goods with III and releasing another one of the standout Instrumental Doom/Stoner Rock albums to own this year.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Good Boy PR for the promo.
III will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl from Sonolith on Friday 04th October 2024.
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