Album Review: Sunnata – Chasing Shadows (Self Released)

Hailing from Warsaw, Poland, the four-piece doom metal visionaries Sunnata, (deriving from the Sanskrit term “sunyata” meaning emptiness or voidness), will release their fifth full-length album, ‘Chasing Shadows’, on May 10th, 2024.

When you see a word like ‘visionary’ used to describe Sunnata, you might think it’s something of an exaggerated term. However, that’s only because you haven’t heard them yet, because once you do, you’ll whole-heartedly agree.

Whereas long-term listeners will be all to aware of the creative nature of this band, even they may find the level of fresh experimentation on Chasing Shadows a surprise. Sunnata never do the same thing twice, and while it can be described as doom, it is such a formless experience, genre terms are irrelevant. Sunnata embody what it means to be distinctive, and across this lengthy release, they showcase a new creative level that beggar’s belief.

There isn’t a single track that doesn’t take you on a journey. A journey that has shamanic properties, ethereal melodies, adventurous rockiness, devious doom heaviness, and an undue amount of progressive thinking. Sunnata’s philosophy for this album seems to have been based in the idea that nothing was off limits.

It’s one of those rare times when using the word ‘experimental’ to describe the basic outline of a release is the perfect way to sum it up. However, there’s simply no way to ignore the fact that this results in a likely polarising album. The most obvious off-putting aspect being how much of an investment it is. Not only is it long, it’s deep, and you must allow it to take over. It requires focus, and a willingness to be immersed like you’ve never been before.

Of course, the reward for this is the experience and Sunnata have crafted an unforgettable one. From the highs to the lows, and everything in between, Sunnata have poured every bit of themselves into it, and that alone deserves so much credit.

That’s before you even take into account the infectious nature of much of the music. Somehow, especially as it is an album rooted in doom, Sunnata have made so many elements work in an interesting way that you can’t help but become enthralled by it. Which is where the personal sinking begins, and the nuances start to rise up. Once you find yourself at this stage, Sunnata have a firm grip on the mind.

The ultimate takeaway from Chasing Shadows is one of wonder. Even if you’re not as taken in by the experience as others are, you will be blown away by what Sunnata have crafted here. It is musical creativity on another level, and even if they are never able to reach such a crescendo again, they will always be able to point at Chasing Shadows as a pinnacle like no other.

Sunnata – Chasing Shadows Track Listing:

1. Chimera
2. Torn
3. At Dusk (Interlude)
4. Wishbone
5. Saviour’s Raft
6. Adrift (Reprise)
7. The Tide
8. Hunger
9. Through the Abyss (Interlude)
10. The Sleeper
11. Like cogs in a wheel, we’re trapped between waves of distorted time

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