Release Date: March 14th 2025. Record Label: Pelagic Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Let The Light In - Tracklisting
1.Don't Look Back
2.Let The Light In 04:07
3.Chemicals 05:12
4.The Place That I Belong
5.Give Blood 04:22
6.Nightmares 04:44
7.Under Streetlights
8.The Light
Members
Will Benoit (Voice, Bass, Guitar, Electronics)
Justin Forrest (Drums, Bass)
Mike Repasch-Nieves (Guitar, Piano)
Joel Reynolds (Guitar, Synth)
Review
Post-Rock/Psych/Doomgazers SOM are back with their new album Let The Light In where they aim for bigger, heavier and grander things which ranks as their most original record to date. Featuring members of JUNIUS, Caspian and Constants, the members know how to perfectly construct a song with a deeply emotional core which allows the sweeping vocals and heavy progressive sounds to aim for the sweet spot. Though, SOM have created their heaviest record yet with outbursts of Sludge Rock, Post-Metal and Progressive based melodies.
The sound is still part of the Space Rock world with a passing resemblance to HUM and CAVE IN. SOM still moves into areas of Atmospheric Doom-Pop heard on their last record The Shape Of Everything. There is a perfect balance of LOUD vs QUIET dynamics where SOM blend Stadium Rock sized commercial melodies with a heavier underground perspective when the record becomes interested in delivering Sludge Rock/Metal grooves which can be quite forward thinking in places.
The opening tracks of Don’t Look Back and Let The Light In allows SOM to play a style of music heard on their last couple records but with a clearer Post-Rock and Shoegaze narrative with the excellent vocals from Will Benoit being quite grounded. There's a level of GRAVITAS to the way how Will delivers his vocals which could easily be matched against any musical genre and still sound brilliantly original in their own right. The instrumental melodies veer into heavier moments and then transform into more lighter fare with SOM adding different multi-layered Psychedelic and Space Rock effects with a subtle Post-Drone energy to them.
The album never feels rushed with SOM trying their hand at different areas of music we haven’t experienced from them before, especially on tracks such as Chemicals, The Place I Belong, Nightmares and Under Streetlights. Their music can be quite bleak and is wonderfully deceptive with the Doom-Pop elements allowing things to be underplayed at times.
There is a subtle DEFTONES energy resonating on the later stages of the record that I only noticed and wholly appreciated after multiple listens which made me love the record even more. Everything is still wholly original with SOM standing firm on their own creative ground.
Let The Light In excels the most where SOM overlap different sound effects, vocals and progressive Space Rock sounds with deeply engaging lyrics that makes this album quite a cinematic trip told through the power of music. The Synths and Piano aspects are another highlight for me as these add a sense of realism to SOM’s music especially within the quieter moments of the record.
SOM have released a massive sounding record that will no doubt be classed as one of Post-Rock/Shoegaze most essential albums to own this year. This could be a game changer for SOM on future releases and I’m quite excited to see the journey the band venture onto next. As I cannot recommend this album highly enough.
Let The Light In is simply unmissable.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Pelagic Records for the promo.
Let The Light In will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Pelagic Records from Friday 14th March 2025.
Links
Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
