Album Review: Somnent – Gardens From Graves (GS Productions)

Gardens From Graves is the realisation of all the potential displayed on Somnent’s previous releases, the Eventide EP of 2015 and the full-length debut album, Sojourn, which came out in 2017. Featuring a guest appearance from Jari Lindholm (Enshine, Exgenesis) and evocative artwork created by Augusto Peixoto (Sinister Realm, In Solitude etc).

Gardens from Graves will be released on October 25th, 2021 via GS Productions.

We need a new sub-genre that describes the miserable melancholy of music like this. Something that accurately conveys the emotion and heart in such melodramatic melody but is also rooted in darkness and desolation. Something that makes clear that brutal tonal shifts and heavier direction changes are expected and you’ll enjoy sinking into the depressive mire created by it.

Perhaps we should just call it Somnent. After the band so capable of capturing exactly what beautiful misery sounds like. Silhouette is akin to drifting in a meditative state with Somnent providing the cold and relaxing soundtrack. Before Acquiescence ups the ante with deeper and doomier heaviness, uncomfortable melodies and post-like rhythm. A wonderful piece of music.

Despite that, the Scourge then takes the crown for the moodiest and most mentally taxing of the bunch. A real mind-bending blast of melodic death and doom. Fragments is a more laidback, soothing and chilled-out affair with only a slight uptick in the tempo to ensure you don’t drift too far. Whereas the title track also has that same dark and slow moodiness but uses it in a heavier and more oppressive way.

Blackened Heart features Enshine and Exgenesis multi-instrumentalist Jari Lindholm to add even more melancholy to the mind. A very emotional and touching listen with a fantastic guitar solo. Before Withered to a Shadow wraps up the standard edition of the album with an epic death/doom slab of miserable heaviness.

If you do find yourself listening to the two bonus tracks, you’ll find something pretty special in Resolve. A short and mellow slice of acoustic guitar with super-soft singing. The other track is similar in that it’s also acoustic but here we get a version of the album track, Fragments.

Somnent – Gardens from Graves Full Track Listing:

1. Silhouette
2. Acquiescence
3. Despite the Scourge
4. Fragments
5. Gardens from Graves
6. Blackened Heart (feat. Jari Lindholm)
7. Withered to a Shadow
8. Resolve (Bonus Track)
9. Fragments – Acoustic (Bonus Track)

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