Hailing from East London’s as yet ungentrified fringes, Sonïtus are a multicultural assemblage of tenacious artists whose powerful neo-rock explores the beautiful, devious and carnal sides of the human psyche. Brought together by a passion for prog, alt-rock and adventurism, counting Radiohead, A Perfect Circle, Incubus and Animals As Leaders among their inspirations, Russell Balogun (vocals), Dein Moore (guitar, vocals), Nathan Chan (guitar), Scott Bacon (bass) and Romulo Heredia (drums) are also bonded by their exceptional musicianship.
The band’s dexterity endows their songs with a distinctively expressive touch, where intricate passages, dynamic textures and raw power lend the material sensitivity, colour and heft. The quintet’s debut EP, ‘Kleptocracy’ – recorded in part at Urchin Studios in Hackney with Dan Cox and Matt Ingram (Lianne La Havas, Enter Shikari, Denai Moore, Slaves and many more), and produced by Sonïtus’ Nathan – is a seven-song testament to this, showcasing a band unafraid to weave threads of R&B and urban UK sound into their politically driven progressive metal, and, through mastery of their art and radical songcraft, Sonïtus are pushing new boundaries at UK rock’s bleeding edge.
Sonitus: Alleviate
As harmonic waves of arpeggiated guitar and bass flow across a resolute kick drum and trilling hi-hat, the sensuous opening to Sonïtus’ ‘Alleviate’ is teasingly gentle yet taut with an air of alienation. Singer Russ’s subtle, soul-tinged dismissal of societal norms only increases the tension, before the pressure bursts in a ferocious surge of molten metallic rage, a showstopping alt-rock gut punch to exorcise the frustrations of being restrained by conformity. Rejection of such mores is a theme central to the very existence of rock’n’roll, of course, but rarely have the constraints been kicked aside in such a brutal, uproarious and thrilling fashion. But this is Sonïtus. And this is their time.
Sonitus: Alleviate Lyrics:
