Album Review: Somnuri – Desiderium (MNRK Heavy)

New York sludge metal trio Somnuri will unleash their third full-length, Desiderium, on July 21st via MNRK Heavy.

There’s a certain amount of misery to Somnuri’s sound and they unleash it in both heavy and melodic ways with the opening track, Death Is Only the Beginning. A maelstrom of crunchy blackened death-infused noise transformed by dramatic clean vocals that makes the whole listening experience so much more impactful. The combination is effective and it flows nicely into the haunting heaviness of Paramnesia. The riffs here are solid gold as it touches on doom but picks up in energy well, as it goes on. Again, there’s something very distinctive about Somnuri’s sound and the excitement to keep heading down the rabbit hole with them, is palatable.

How about Pale Eyes for something different? A frenzy of thrash-infused speed metal with an unexpectedly big chorus. One of the more heart-racing and blood-thumping tracks on the album. Although, there’s a similar vibe to What A Way to Go, as Somnuri lean into hard rock areas with an infectiously groovy listen. Robust riffing, chunky hooks, and growling, garish vocals are a delight to the ears.

Taking us back into more miserable sounding, doom-infused, melody-led areas with Hollow Visions. Somnuri continue to showcase just how much creativity they have as this impressive number burns with gloomy intensity. Following that up with another energetic and explosive hit in the form of Flesh & Blood, the meaty instrumentation and dreary delights of the vocals on the title track, and the emphatically heavy blend of angry animation and progressive detail that embodies Remnants. There’s a strong argument that this, the latter part of the album, has some of their strongest tracks.

Case in point? The brilliant finale of The Way Out. Where morose melody and captivating vocal harmonies work impeccably alongside dirtier doom-inspired riffs and pounding drum beats. It soars high and drags the mind into the depths in equal measures. Especially when the more guttural vocals make themselves known. From beginning to end, it captures the imagination, and is the cherry on top of this immersive and engaging release.

Somnuri – Desiderium Track Listing:

1. Death Is The Beginning
2. Paramnesia
3. Pale Eyes
4. What A Way To Go
5. Hollow Visions
6. Flesh & Blood
7. Desiderium
8. Remnants
9. The Way Out

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