Somnuri – Desiderium (Review)

Somnuri are a sludge metal band from the US. and this is their third album.

Following on from 2021’s enjoyable Nefarious Wave comes Desiderium, a 38-minute feast of multi-genre sludge metal. On this new album Somnuri showcase their evolving sound, one that heightens the heaviness and aggression, while still retaining the key aspects of who they were before.

Ranging from Mastodon-esque songwriting smarts, to crushing hardcore groove, blistering blackened extreme metal, post-metal flourishes, intricate progressive and psychedelic enrichments, Alice in Chains-style grunge, and more besides, a lot of ingredients have gone into Desiderium. Somnuri are nothing if not diverse, yet manage to keep everything sounding coherent and natural throughout. Whether they are demolishing buildings with massive sludgy riffs and brutal heaviness, or entrancing with gorgeous harmonies and rich melodies, Somnuri hit the spot very well.

Overall on Desiderium the tracks are shorter and more concise than on the band’s previous album. They’re also heavier and contain more elements of extremity. The songwriting is more refined, boasting many hooks and memorable moments in tight, precise musical packages. It’s a more energetic and aggressive album than its predecessor, but it still dabbles in atmosphere and emotion in amounts that make Desiderium more than simply a one-dimensional ride. Somnuri are anything but one-dimensional, as we’ve seen, but I like that Desiderium channels the band’s different influences into something focused and purposeful.

Somnuri have a talented and skilled vocalist at the helm of Desiderium. Armed with a voice that’s as varied and capable as the music itself is, whether it’s screams, shouts, or clean singing, the vocals shine across the album.

Desiderium is a good step up for Somnuri. Heavy and meaty, but with emotive depth and substance, Desiderium is a grower, one that delivers more and more as you get to know it more and more. It’s good to have the band back once more, and they have returned with a winner.

Very highly recommended.