The Pitch: Glorious, emotionally engaging post-black from St. Petersburg, Russia band Somn. FFO: So Hideous, Bosse-De-Nage, Numenorean
What I Like: Not long ago, I made a list of post-black groups I consider to be more impressive and deserving of the spotlight than current poster boys Deafheaven. Were I to update that list today, Somn would most certainly make the cut. The All-Devouring possesses some of the most exciting elements of the genre all in one place. Somn bring the frenetic, unrelenting drumming of Bosse-De-Nage, the epic atmosphere of So Hideous, and the still vicious black metal snarls of MØL with a level of consistency that makes this tight, 38 minute album utter post-black perfection. It's a precision balance of cathartic post-rock guitar melodies with fierce black metal tremolos and contemptuous howls. And once more, those drums... I am in awe of this performance. It is positively pummeling. With tracks like the appropriately stormlike "Tempest" I don't know whether to throw out my arms in victory or set my body ablaze.
Critiques: This album is fantastic, but if I'm being completely honest, there's not a lot here to differentiate Somn from other bands in the genre. Put them in a playlist with a few other post-black bands and I'm not sure I could pick them out of the lineup.
The Verdict: Somn runs the risk of being lost in the open floodgates of post-black bands these days, which is all the more reason to tell everyone you know about this release. While there's nothing particularly original about The All-Devouring, it's one of the finest albums I've heard in the genre and deserves attention as such. Hopefully the band can find ways to further rise above the muck in the future.
Flight's Fav's: Tempest, Sightless
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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