Sunken State are full of power and personality as they journey through the nuances of heavy metal in their debut full-length album, Solace in Solitude.
While the Joburg based groove metal outfit haven’t been around for all that long – having formed in 2018 – the self-proclaimed modern groove metal mob are undoubtedly masters of their craft.
Their proficiency extends far beyond their ample technical ability and bleeds into their songwriting to create an album that refuses to be tied down into one of metal’s many sub-genres but rather draws influence and inspiration from them all.
Take the opening track “Beg For Mercy”, for example, where the screamed vocals function as individual characters rather than just sounds of aggression and whose sound is engaging and tasteful in its dynamism.
Then there are songs like “Enter The Grey” and the frantic “This Is the End” which dip their toes into the pool of more standard metal conventions but still maintain a sense of exploration – the breakdown at the end of the latter is particularly tasty.
With Solace in Solitude Sunken State prove that they’re more than just your average run-of-the-mill metal band. Even songs that opt for a more conventional approach are cloaked in a sound that’s as unique as it is captivating.
