At 8:44, ‘Swarming Mass’ is the latest track available from SOMN’s second album, Consecration. The song is streaming in full on AOP Records’ official YouTube channel, following the previously revealed ‘The Loyal Hand’. The album is scheduled for international release on November 20 through AOP Records.
Consecration centers on a man consumed by other people’s ambitions. The announcement describes a narrative of blind submission, bloodshed and the destruction of identity, in which grand ideals become a justification for lives lost in vain. Its closing line reads: ‘Thou shalt seek neither rest nor death.’
That concept continues SOMN’s focus on trauma, deep fears and nightmares. The Saint-Petersburg, Russia, post-black metal band takes its name from the god of sleep, with a sound rooted in black metal and post-rock. The announcement presents Consecration as a further intensification of that approach.
Guitarist Oleg Salnikov and drummer Timur Yusupov formed SOMN in 2017. Bassist Mikhail Kurochkin and guitarist Artem Selyugin subsequently completed the lineup, bringing together members of Show Me A Dinosaur, TRNA and Olhava.
SOMN’s debut, The All-devouring, received a vinyl release through Elusive Sound in 2019. The announcement characterizes that record through its intense performances and intricate songwriting. In 2022, the band joined fellow Saint-Petersburg group Wowod for the split EP Obrechenie, issued by Church Road Records, continuing its heavy, dynamic approach.
For Consecration, SOMN have aligned with AOP Records, which also houses Show Me A Dinosaur. Tim Yusupov supplied the cover artwork. The album contains four tracks:
- The Loyal Hand — 5:19
- Tower of Flesh — 11:24
- Swarming Mass — 8:44
- Consecration — 10:56
