The debut EP “Book I” introduces us to Sonic Command, a power trio that digs deep into the primal essence of Doom and Heavy instrumentalism. Recorded live at Trimungus Studio and released on October 31, 2025, the record exudes that raw, unfiltered energy typical of bands that build their sound around weight, texture, and atmosphere rather than ornamentation. There’s no attempt to sweeten or polish—the band lets the amps breathe, the strings resonate, and the drums dictate the pace like seismic waves. The opening track, “Commandment I,” immediately establishes the group’s musical manifesto. The bass — deeply downtuned, viscous, and almost tactile — anchors the composition, while the guitar unleashes heavy riffs that move between oppressive and hypnotic. The rhythm section feels colossal, each beat pounding with ritualistic intensity. The piece unfolds through tempo changes that stretch and contract the sonic space, evolving within a dark instrumental Doom framework enriched by thick reverbs and subtle effects. The atmosphere is cavernous yet controlled, evoking an imagery of vast subterranean landscapes and echoing chambers where distortion reigns supreme. With “Commandment II,” the band delves even further into the murky waters of Doom/Sludge. The bassline becomes the driving force, pulsing with immense weight and sustaining a wall of sound that seems to crawl rather than run. The guitar reinforces the heaviness with dense riffing and gritty textures, while the drums remain steadfast, monolithic in their pulse. In the second half, the track grows in dynamic range: shifts in rhythm and sharp, abrasive guitar interventions carve out a more complex and layered structure. It’s an instrumental journey where each change feels deliberate, designed to emphasize the tension between immobility and eruption — a defining trait of the genre’s most effective expressions. The closing “Commandment III” unites all the elements introduced earlier into an extended, massive conclusion. The rhythmic foundation is granite-solid, creating a thick sonic mantle on which the guitar moves with surgical precision. Solos emerge as cutting insertions, sharp and metallic, slicing through the low-end fog with purpose. The composition expands across its eleven minutes like a tectonic process: slow, relentless, and deeply immersive. The live recording contributes an additional sense of authenticity — you can almost feel the air vibrate in the studio, each instrument captured in its raw physicality. Drawing the final balance, “Book I” stands as an impressive statement of intent. Sonic Command may be a new name, but their approach already reveals maturity and stylistic awareness. There are inevitable echoes of monumental acts like Om and the thick, rumbling bass tones reminiscent of Al Cisneros, yet the trio never falls into imitation. Their sound feels personal, built upon the physical impact of volume and the meditative repetition of heavy motifs. It’s the kind of Doom that doesn’t seek consolation in melody, but rather in the trance-like power of weight and resonance. For a first chapter, “Book I” is both promising and potent — a live-recorded EP that captures the essence of a band whose strength lies in the interaction between its members and the uncompromising devotion to tone. If this is merely the beginning, Sonic Command have opened a path worth following closely through the fog and thunder of their sound.
Tracklist
01. Commandment I (08:05)
02. Commandment II (07:45)
03. Commandment III (11:11)
Lineup
Pug / Bass
Rog / Guitar
Terry / Drums