Somnium by Apallic: A Brutal Dive into the Depths of Death Metal
Released in 2015, Somnium by German death metal outfit Apallic is one of those albums that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. It’s raw, unrelenting, and loaded with enough aggression to leave your ears ringing for days. While it might not have the backing of a major label (it was self-released), this album proves that talent and sheer force can punch way above their weight.
The record kicks off with “Deranged,” and holy crap, does it set the tone. This track hits like a sledgehammer right outta the gate. The riffs are razor-sharp, gnarly even, and the drumming? Relentless. What sticks with me about “Deranged” isn’t just its brutality but how it feels chaotic yet controlled—like watching someone walk a tightrope over a pit of fire. There’s something hypnotic about the way the vocals tear through the mix, almost as if they’re daring you to keep listening. By the time it ends, you're left breathless, wondering what just hit you.
Another standout is “Mental Prison.” If “Deranged” is all about chaos, then this track dives deep into suffocating tension. The pacing here feels deliberate, almost claustrophobic, trapping you in its sonic nightmare. Around the halfway mark, there’s this breakdown—a slow, grinding section—that feels like being dragged through gravel. But instead of wanting to escape, you find yourself leaning in. That moment lingers long after the song fades out, sticking to your brain like tar.
Apallic hails from Germany, a country known for churning out some seriously heavy acts, and Somnium fits right into that lineage. They don’t reinvent the wheel, sure, but they do crank it up to 11 and smash it into a wall. Fans of old-school death metal will dig the no-frills approach, while newer listeners might appreciate how polished the production still manages to sound despite the overall grittiness.
One thing worth mentioning is how cohesive the album feels. Tracks like “The Awakening” round things off nicely, tying together themes of madness and existential dread without ever losing momentum. It’s clear these guys know their craft inside out, even if they fly under the radar.
Reflecting on Somnium, it strikes me how much music like this relies on emotion rather than perfection. Sure, technical skill matters, but at its core, this album thrives because it channels pure, untamed fury—and honestly, who couldn’t use more of that in their lives? Oddly enough, though, my favorite takeaway has nothing to do with guitars or growls—it’s realizing how three dudes from Germany managed to make an album that feels so alive, so human, in such an extreme genre. Now, if only they’d put out another LP soon…
