To be different from the others should be a need for every Metal band that is born. It was in the past, because only the ones unlike the others received attention and had commercial success; today, the things aren't in this way anymore, with more and more bands trying to force down the fans' throats anything. But even in these times of clones, there are those who try something unusual, and the Belgian quintet SPLENDIDULA. And "Somnus" (their latest release) shows it clearly.

Labeled as a Stoner/Doom/Sludge Metal band, such words aren't enough to describe their music. It's really a blend of aspects of such musical genres, but with a very personal approach that evades those dirty and greasy sonorities to a better shaped form of music. And for such musical way, they're really using a form of arranging their songs that even uses very good melodies, and due the versatility of their work, it wouldn't be a sin to call them as a Stoner/Doom/Sludge Metal THE GATHERING (besides such comparison isn't fair with their music), as sometimes it's distorted and raw, and on others, deeper and introspective.

The band worked with Tim De Gieter on the mixing and Alan Douches on the mastering. All to build a sound quality that could fit on the contrasts that their music is based on, and they did a very good work, allowing the band to be understood by the listeners (a different point from many bands of the genre that prefers something putrid), but thing some crude feeling on distorted parts.

Musically, songs as "Somnia" (very good guitar parts and contrasts of vocals tunes), "Void" (a very tribal feeling in some parts, along with that crude set of arrangements on many moments, and a solid work on bass guitar and drums), "Incubus" (a fine set of contrasts between aggressive guitars and melodic voices), and "When God Comes Down" (very good sets of contrasts can be heard again, something between silk melodies and crude ambiences) will be a battering ram for those that still resists to recognize the value of the genre. Yes, they're able to do that.

So it's easy to say that SPLENDIDULA works on an unconventional way on "Somnus", so give them a chance. It can be what you're searching for.