September 1, 2022

Somergloom descended on Boynton Yards – 8/27

For the second consecutive August, a day-long bill of Greater Boston heaviness brought the doom and gloom to ONCE Somerville’s outdoor show space.

Last summer, I spent a lot of time at Boynton Yards. With live music tentatively returning to clubs and music halls around the city, a nagging sense of pandemic paranoia in tow, ONCE’s outdoor programming presented on oasis of (relatively) carefree showgoing, and we were all starved for it. Having more or less returned to a normal, extremely packed shows-and-life calendar this summer, I haven’t made it out there nearly as much. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t going to prioritize Somergloom II, however. 2021’s inaugural edition of the mini metal fest was one of my summer highlights, and an expanded lineup for last Saturday’s event succeeded in delivering another pavement-rumbling good time.

Up first in the mid-afternoon sun were Heavy Hands and Dysthymia, a one-two that drew a fun contrast between the former’s desert-psych and the latter’s wind-whipped black metal. Power trio Lesotho followed up with a set of dynamic instrumental crushers, giving way to Crone Visions‘ soaring doom-gaze.

After a brief intermission (which would’ve been the slot for Ashen Veil, a reprise of 2021 highlight Kira McSpice’s full-band set, if not for a last-minute COVID cancellation), Have A Nice Life offshoot Consumer beckoned us into the day’s second half with an apocalyptic, synth-flecked set. Queen Elephantine took the mood to a dreamier place, enveloping the lot in a sea of droning psych that likely marked the first time I’ve ever seen a tanpura on stage at a metal fest. Providence screamo collective Dreamwell were quick to remark on their sonic outsider status amid a day of doom and sludge tempos, but played an absolute gale-force set that might’ve been my favorite of the whole day.

Ever-reliable Boston favorites Sea and Glacier played back-to-back as the sun went down, giving the Dregs Liquid Light Show a chance to shine. Both bands approach what could loosely be described as post-metal with decidedly different tacks, Sea’s a majestic swell and Glacier’s a pummeling so heavy that each downstroke feels like a blow to the head. They’re great counterpoints, and two of the best heavy bands around.

Closing out the night were headliners Junius, a Boston staple who I’d never managed to catch before. The band’s post-everything approach manifested as a fusion of quiet-loud instrumental dynamics and goth-prog-metal songwriting; heavy, but accessibly so. Bolstered by a custom light show of dramatic silhouettes, they brought the night to a satisfying close.

Boston and its environs boast an ever-expanding world of heaviness to offer the discerning listener, and I consider us lucky to have Somergloom mastermind (and Sea member) Stephen LoVerme putting together this killer showcase of both familiar faces and new-to-me sounds celebrating that. Already looking forward to year three.

Scroll down for a chronological gallery of the whole day below.

Heavy Hands: