Article by: Leanne Ridgeway
New York progressive sludge metal revelation SOMNURI recently presented their devastatingly heavy new video “In The Grey“, taken from their new album ‘Nefarious Wave‘ on Blues Funeral Recordings. The band also announced an extensive fall US tour to kick off on September 16th.
Like a whirlwind of progressive sludge and post-hardcore tinged with black metallic blasts, this new single once again showcases the NYC trio’s mastery for crushing genre boundaries, injecting contrast and various influences in their music, making it so exciting and unique. Says the band about the video:
“‘In The Grey’ encompasses a lot of the different styles from our new record, ‘Nefarious Wave.’ The song is about the idea of being stuck in limbo or oblivion and confronting that inner turmoil. The video was produced and directed by Susan Hunt (Five Sigma Films).”
Watch the new video “In The Grey” streaming below, as well as see their confirmed Fall 2021 Tour Dates.
Nothing burnishes heaviness like being a DIY band in Brooklyn. The strength of will to survive in New York inevitably seeps into the music and toughens the musical character of those who persevere. SOMNURI started when two multi-instrumentalists sharing adjacent practice spaces heard like-minded styles and energies coming from next door. Justin Sherrell had played drums in Brooklyn bands Blackout, Tower, and Bezoar, but yearned to take on guitar and vocals. He heard Phil SanGiacomo (Family, Grandfather, Last Hours) pounding out polyrhythms through the wall and thought, ‘this could be the foundation of something awesome’.
Hitting the pavement with an underground cannabis delivery service to fund the band’s beginnings immediately catalyzed their uncompromising ethos. SOMNURI self-released an ambitious and well-received debut LP in 2017, earning high marks and powered ahead with a series of blistering shows. The arrival of bassist Philippe Arman in 2019 seemed to complete the band at last, with the addition of live vocal harmonies and slick yet thunderous low-end.
A sprawling record full of time and tempo shifts, their sophomore album ‘Nefarious Wave‘ is a story of survival and resilience. As naysayers flee the city, claiming the scene is dead and will never be what it used to be, SOMNURI is alive, breathing, adapting, and mutating into something greater, and continues to push the possibilities of heavy music and the ideals of how a DIY band fights for their place. It was mixed by Phil SanGiacomo, and mastered by Justin Mantooth at Westend Recording Studios KC. The artwork was designed by Dani Otrakji.
‘Nefarious Wave‘ Tracklist:
01. Tied to Stone
02. Tooth & Nail
03. Desire Lines
04. Beyond Your Last Breath
05. Watch the Lights Go Out
06. In The Grey
07. Nefarious Wave
Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, SOMNURI weaves together breakneck energy, infectious melodies, bludgeoning riffs, and pounding grooves that share DNA with High on Fire, Mastodon, Baroness, and Torche. A sprawling record full of time shifts and burning ambition, their sophomore album ‘Nefarious Wave‘ is a snapshot of survival and resilience in the band’s native Brooklyn, full of stark brutality and spacious hush.
You can find the band’s upcoming tour dates for Fall 2021 below, and also check out their recent videos for “Beyond Your Last Breath“, “Tooth & Nail“, and “Desire Lines” after watching the new video for the sixth track on their ‘Nefarious Wave‘ album, “In The Grey“.
SOMNURI:
Justin Sherrell — Guitars, Vocals (also bass on the album)
Philippe Arman — Bass
Phil SanGiacomo — Drums
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Somnuri Fall 2021 US Tour:
Sep. 16 – Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East
Sep. 17 – Wallingford, CT @ Cherry St Station
Sep. 18 – Pawtucket, RI @ Focal
Sep. 20 – Long Island, NY @ Amityville Music Hall
Sep. 21 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Sep. 24 – Richmond, VA @ Banditos
Sep. 25 – Bristol, TN @ Epic Ink
Sep. 26 – Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone
Sep. 27 – Atlanta, GA @ Boggs
Sep. 28 – Louisville, KY @ TBD
Sep. 29 – Cincinnati, OH @ Legends
Sep. 30 – Buffalo, NY @ Soup Of Dissent
Oct. 28 – Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus Bar
Dec. 10 – Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus Bar
