SOMNUS THRONE is a Doom Psych Metal band out of the United States. They currently call home Los Angeles, but they also cite Portland, New Orleans, and San Antonio as points of origin. So, I'm calling it west of the Mississippi . . . and, yes, I know New Orleans is technically on both sides of the Mississippi. While we can debate about which city can claim them as their own, no one is debating the veracity of their self-titled debut album released on September 24, 2020 through Burning World Records. We're talking 50 plus minutes of sludgy, stoner bliss.

Obvious comparisons of SOMNUS THRONE to other bands abound, so I won't go into that except to say every band on the planet has a sound and we shouldn't be surprised when some overlap. The band has stated that the album "sounds exactly like what it is: the combined frustration, hatred, depravity, and despair that came from years of dredging the gutters, drug dens and 5 dollar shows across the USA for something meaningful, something real." Yeah, sounds like metal to me and I mean that in the best of ways.

SOMNUS THRONE lives into their name. Slow moving, heavy somnolent riffs that plow with the relentless intent of a barge through a thick, muddy river. Maybe even that Mississippi river I mentioned before. Now, I'm not saying anyone could fall asleep listening to this band. For one, the earth shakes too much; second, well, it's music meant to be played loudly. So, yeah, your neighbors will be knocking.

The album has some cool audio samples from what I'm guessing are B movies and such. The only one I could find a reference for was the 1971 horror film, "The Devils," but my patience and aptitude for online research are not renowned. Apart from a 45-second intro ("Caliphate Obeisance"), a 30-second acoustic opener for "Aetheronaut / Permadose," and the spoken-word samples, there are no distractions to this monster. For my tastes, best tracks are "Sadomancer" and "Shadow Heathen." There aren't any real clunkers.

Lyrically, I really I have no idea. Blame it on my research skills or my tinnitus-riddled ears, but I can't catch half of what Evan is singing about. He does, however, sound like he means it, so A+ on passion and visceral intent. I should also say that he has one of those gravelly, but clean vocal styles. Fits especially well with the earthy riffs and boots-of-lead rhythm section. Altogether, some tight harmonic alignment with all instruments and across the entire album.

"Somnus Throne" is a solid and consistent offering of fuzz-laden Doom. Very well mixed, too. If you think in terms of debut albums, this is a seriously grand entrance. This wasn't recorded in grandma's basement or Uncle Joe's garage, and I suspect the songs weren't written overnight. This stuff is wrought from blood, sweat, and more blood. No tears except for maybe the tears you'll be crying if you miss out on this one.