I like my obscure literature as much as the next nerdy humanities graduate, but I’d never heard of Richard Brautigan’s In Watermelon Sugar. This obscure post-apocalyptic novel is the concept for Czech black metal outfit Somniate’s sophomore We Have Proved Death. Of its cryptically minimalist and idiosyncratic story, Somniate present their interpretation through a free-flowing melodious black metal that relaxes the genre boundaries of extreme metal in a way befitting of the magical realism of their subject matter. Yes, it’s black metal, but with a helping of spice and intrigue that sets it apart from the swaths of Dissection-worshippers; something I can’t put my finger on. Like the novel, there’s something more going on here beneath the surface, and it shows in music that has true layers. This all being said, is this like an arty indie movie you don’t really ‘get’, or is it accessible, and meaningful art, with substance?
I’m happy to report that it’s the latter, albeit, not perfect. We Have Proved Death does have depth—its poetic, philosophical lyrics, and at times truly beautiful refrains stick with you beyond their time. At its greatest moments, it is fearfully and dynamically composed. Songs run one into the other, giving the sense of a drama unfolding with inevitability. Vocals—which mainly stick to the wailing end of the black metal spectrum if they don’t speak with gravity—profess a spectrum of confusion, existential dread and ardor. It doesn’t forget to be heavy, but its heaviness is frequently measured through the lens of emotion. Some intelligently-placed refrains make for vivid scene-setting and emotional resonance. The lead example is that which begins and characterizes “A Lamb at False Dawn,” which does not fail to give me chills as it enters from the echoing rumble of its predecessor. Closely following comes the melancholic blackened-doom early act of “Black Soundless Sugar,” and the stirring, swirling finale of “Non-You.” This album tries to make you feel something of the emotional dysphoria and brute alienness of this weird alternate future.
Somniate succeed in their evocative goal, and just plain musically when they lean into the grand and the strange. The recurrent waves of drone, and reverberation (“I Am Here and You Are Distant,” “A Lamb…,” title track) and the occasional appearance of unconventional instrumentation (the mouth harp on “I Am…” and “Black Soundless Sugar” for instance) add a tension and just the right amount of irregularity. The frequent use of layered, call-response, and group vocals heighten urgency and intensity (“The Statue of Mirrors,” title track). Their pained wailing tone increases senses of madness, as it lurches into unhinged shrieks (especially “I Am…, ” and “Non-You”). When wrapped between moments of deep atmosphere, doomy (“Black Soundless Sugar,” “Non-You”), or restlessly anticipatory (“A Lamb…,”) even dissonant clamor becomes a natural chapter in the drama, and compelling.
But the things that make We Have Proved Death worth exploring can also hold it back. The record’s layers make it less immediate as a whole, even while there are still parts that strike instantly (“A Lamb…”‘s refrain, and the powerful blackened doom of “Black Soundless Sugar,” for example). Something exacerbating this problem are the barer passages that pale beside the grandeur and intrigue of the surrounding material. “The Statue of Mirrors,” and “Non-You” fade as they drift into a more meandering style, before each returning to end with terrific, theatrical climaxes. Perhaps not helping either is the slight inclination towards bloat, with most songs probably able to lose up to minute. After many listens, I’ve forgiven the record these minor lows for the sake of the soaring highs, but listeners take note that this is definitely a grower.
Just like an enigmatic novella, We Have Proved Death is something you sit with for a while after experiencing, and that sits with you. It’s powerful and beautiful, and it’s interesting. It might be a tad uneven, it might take time to sink in, but it’s worth it. And I’m glad to have Somniate on my radar. Now, to read that book…
Rating: Good
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Lavadome Productions
Websites: somniate.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/somniateofficial
Releases Worldwide: July 14th, 2023
