While I almost feel bad about saying this since they’re still around, but SOM may be this decade’s answer to the almighty Deftones. Their brand of post-rock weaves shoegaze, doom, and guitar-driven metal together for an energetic breath of life into their music. Their recent signing to Pelagic Records comes with a new EP Awake, due out next month, and the first taste “Awake // Sedate” is a fine example of what they describe as “heavy dream pop.”
That said, their latest single “Youth // Decay” may be an even better example. Lead lines ringing out over the vocals, the heavy downtuned guitars coming in only when they need to, the whole track is a swaying, sweeping affair. It’s accessible in its execution, but the layering and the structuring make it a joy to listen to again and again.
Singer/guitarist Will Benoit discussed the composing of “Youth // Decay,” stating:
"Before the first SOM record was done, [guitarist] Mike [Repasch-Nieves] and I were both feeling creatively and musically adrift. We got together for a couple days, recording ambient guitar and synths over glitchy beats in an attempt to change things up. Two years later when Mike and [guitarist] Joel [M. Reynolds] joined the band, I edited some of Mike's demo parts from that session to form the main melodies in 'Youth // Decay.' I arranged the chords and vocals and brought it to the group. During quarantine, we all passed the demo back and forth. Slowly, this minimal, sparse piece of music grew into a dynamic, crushing song that is also the first track we finished as a five-piece."
I’m all for working smarter rather than harder, and this track gets it done. I was excited for Awake before, but now I’m sitting on my hands, waiting for March 5th, when this EP drops.
See the music video for “Youth // Decay” below:
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