Sonic Death

Funny timing. I had prepared a post about Sonic Death, who I have been listening to for more than a year now, and was ready to post when the band - on Halloween - dropped a brand new record. Soooo, here we are. Ready to start all over again with new material to discuss - and a brand new reason to listen to the talented band.

Sonic Death has been on the radar for a while now. The Russian duo has been releasing music for over a decade now (since 2011), first under the label Home Cult and then later, in 2020, self-producing and publishing. The band, based, in St. Petersburg, has put out an impressive 19 stuido albums within this time.

All the way back in 2015, Vice’s Vladmir Kozlov was already describing their Home Punk record (2013) as “high-power, mind-blowing garage rock”, laced with “numerous melodic and lyrical turns”. And still, over a dozen records and ten years later, Sonic Death remains a largely underground musical force.

Perhaps Как В Старые Времена (Like In The Old Days) will change that. Sonic Death’s Facebook announcement of the album drop declares the record “Raw, loud, and honest.” They add that it “captures the pure energy of garage metal: gritty riffs, lo-fi atmosphere, and emotional vocals straight from the underground.” All of the above is true: After the not particularly interesting but smooth Intro, Sonic Death jumps right into the energy of Чернокнижник. With a delicious build, this second track is a 10/10 way to start the record. This energy is maintained through Опасная Трясина, Ville Valo, and MR4K before dipping back down on the 66 interlude, which reminds me of the start to a The Body song with brooding acoustic strumming. On SNAKE ISLAND, the tempo is kept low, but the tone is more hopeful, with oddly reassuring lyrics about “finding your body on snake island.” In this way, SNAKE ISLAND is a fitting ending song that wraps up the album with a cinematic finish while its dramatic sound leaves the door open for more work in the future.

With only 7 tracks, two of which are an intro and an interlude, it is true that Как В Старые Времена can feel brief. But it is rich emotionally, at least in its sound. As a non-Russian speaker and with little online material regarding the subject matter of the album, it is hard to discuss it’s contents. That being said, we must credit Sonic Death for consistently putting out listen-worthy music that does not all blur into itself. Creating garage metal this muddled, it is easy to slip into homogeneity. However, the simplicity of Sonic Death should not confuse you. There are layers here. With memorable melodies and catchy hooks, the duo is creating feelings bigger than you. Turn it up and get lost in it.

My one critique would be that, while I understand their muddled production is the goal, I do find myself wishing for a crisper sound at times simply because of the quality of their songs. Because their lyricism and instrumental intricacies are often on-point, I believe both could be better appreciated if made a bit clearer.

If you don’t trust my review, trust the album cover, which features both HEALTH and Iron Maiden (on band tees). Sonic Death knows what they are doing. Educated, talented, and reliable, they are here to honor a classic genre in a timeless way.