Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Atmospheric Black Metal band SOMNIUM NOX formed in 2016. "Terra Inanis" is the band's debut album, containing three tracks of about ten minutes in length each. Lyrically, the band deals with elements of loss, philosophy, and depression. The genre of Black Metal as a whole used to be very linear in scope. However, that has really changed in the past decade, with all kinds of new directions branching out, and mixing with other genres of Metal to create sounds we have not heard before. Where does "Terra Inanis" fall within this style? Let's get to the songs to see.

"Soliloquy Of Lamnent" opens with soft acoustic guitars, echoing from the hallows of a burial chamber. When the remainder of the instruments and vocals join the fold, it is a heavy, deep and harsh sound, complete with screams and chanting, as if you are witnessing the rising of dead souls. Atmospheric passages follow, soothing, but disguised as a beautiful succubus who will take your life in exchange for your advances. The chaos returns soon, as the arisen dead souls take human bodies to complete their conquest. "The Alnwick Apotheosis" has another tentative opening, allowing the scene to slowly build around you. Soon enough the "wall of sound" hits you, like a thousand demonic voices in your head that you cannot shake. They threaten to take over your will, and to force you to nefarious ends. There is a majestic quality to the way they connect the chords and riffs and it is quite alluring. Even amidst the obvious haunting evil and torturous screams, there can be moments of beauty.

"Transcendental Dysphoria" is the third and final song. It is despondent, depressing and malevolent. The muted screams/whispers are an audible depiction of the final moments of torture before a welcomed death ultimately claims this victim. The droning rhythm fueled by blast beat drumming drains every drop of blood, leaving a cold, lifeless corpse of bones. The fade to the end steals hope from all of mankind. Overall, this is an album of villainous proportion, with apocalyptic leanings and evil so pure that there is no way out. The atmospheric and more ethereal passages allow that cimmerian sound to soak into you, like you are being consumed by a man-eating flesh disease that there is no cure for. Ominously delicious, "Terra Inanis" will make you afraid to go out of your door in the middle of the day.