INSONIKA translates to "humanity" in Uzbek. It is also the name of an Experimental Stoner band out of Jönköping, Sweden. The band has explained their name came from a dream their bassist, Daniel Englafors, had. When they looked up the meaning of the word, it struck a resonant chord with them as many of their songs focus on the ills of humanity. The band formed in 2017 and have one EP and one LP to their credit. On October 31, 2022, they will self-release their second full-length, "Pithos." The album comprises six tracks and spans 38 minutes. The punch it packs, however, far outsizes the package it is wrapped in.

Although the band has been largely categorized as Experimental Stoner, their sound is a mix of Prog, Doom, and Stoner. Oscar Flanagan's vocals are mostly clean though interspersed with some guttural; many of the compositions are well layered with most extending well past the five-minute mark; their tempo is neither frenetic nor sludgy; and keyboard, acoustic, and vocal harmonies extend the range of their sonic landscape from visceral to velvety.

Confession. I had look up "pithos." I was thinking it meant something like "pathos" or "ethos." Nope and nope. It's "a very large earthenware jar with a wide round mouth used . . . for holding and storing large quantities of food (as grain) or liquids (as wine, oil) and sometimes for the burial of the dead." Thank you, Internet. But, yeah, that totally fits with the whole Pandora theme.

The album opens with "Pandora"-a fitting opener for the album's overarching theme. The song eases in with a 90 second acoustic intro and then builds into a Doom cadence of heavy distorted riffs and triumphant vocals. At the close it settles back to its acoustic core. This pattern is replicated across the entire album with tracks one and six providing more nuanced, acoustically embellished compositions and the central four tracks providing the teeth and fangs of the assault.

Comparisons to KHEMMIS and MASTODON abound, and I can't argue against either though I might lean more to the former than the latter. All six tracks are surprisingly good, especially for an unsigned band. Lyrically, several of the tracks come across a little didactic, but there is nothing wrong with standing for something. My list of standout tracks in order of magnitude would run "Dunes of War" which shifts through multiple movements and features stony keyboards and Doom-laden riffs; "Pandora" with its epic arc and thoughtful intro and outro; and "Warmongers," a bitter and clear indictment against Russia's actions against the Ukraine.

Altogether, I was not expecting this caliber of Metal when I picked up this album for review. A very welcomed surprise indeed! This is definitely a band whose growing catalogue deserves exploring and their future endeavors warrant anticipation. My crystal ball says they will be on a label soon. INSONIKA, "Pithos," out on Halloween this year. Well worth the time and investment.