Genre: Symphonic black metal
Origin: Poland
Released: 2009
Website: Sonneillon
Label: Let Them Come Productions
Uploaded: 13.11.09

I guess Polymorphous was originally the band’s demo effort last year, but is now re-released with updated sound, a bonus song and a video. I haven’t heard the original version of the recording, but the sound quality is definitely superior to most demos I’ve heard. Anyway, this is a symphonic black metal output, which gives birth to some initial antipathy. I have problems with too much keyboard action, and I don’t dig metal that’s too melodic either; so symphonic metal is just not my cup of tea.
The intro consists of pretty much pure keys, but it’s actually quite well done as it’s bombastic and powerful enough to build up some anticipation of what’s to come. With the Prologue past us the opener Stream of obscure consciousness start off with some more keys, and it’s happy and joyful to the point where it almost sounds like a melodic viking metal album is about to commence. But the drumming and riffing soon follows and leads the music down a different path. What is painfully obvious here is the fact that the drumming is programmed. Sure, it’s definitely very skillfully done, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that it sounds flat and rigid, like all drum machine work does. For a vibrant metal style like this the band would benefit a lot from getting a hold of a real drummer, as it’d add vividness instead of inanimation to the music.
Having listened through this album several times now, what surprises me the most is in fact the keyboard. It’s constantly present, which in my book floods the black metal with too much melody, but it still doesn’t change the quality of the execution. Pluralis majestatis is an interlude where Spirit (the keyboard player/drum programmer) really lets loose all his inner ambitions and manages to create such a fiercely bombastic track that I could see myself listening to an entire album of just his keyboard creations. It’s extremely professional sounding, the orchestration part is powerful-as-hell, and the tune has some minor quirks that really pay tribute to the careful listener. This, to me, is the album’s strongest material – and it’s just an interlude, sans any metal whatsoever. Surprised the hell out of me.
But I guess I can’t focus solely on Spirit’s work (since I’ve failed to mention anything besides the programming and keyboard). With a track like Into the unknown, which starts off beautifully, we get served all the attributes that sums up the sound of Sonneillon. The atmospheric build up during the first minute of the track is masterful, and the remainder of the tune is somewhat hysterical in attribute. The riffing is (as with the entire album) unfortunately a little hard to focus on, as most of the time it’s hidden behind the keyboard. But the moments of riff clarity that’s offered shows some very fast-forward, skillful and melodic work. The vocal effort is of the more classic black metal kind, quite harsh and almost gurgling at times. Leaving out the keyboard interlude I mentioned earlier this would be the album’s strongest track, by far.
Upon the crimson moon, which is the bonus track for the re-release, will appear on their upcoming album and it definitely shows some progression. It starts off great, reminding me of their fellow countrymen Hermh, and it seems to be going for a more Norwegian based sound. The pace is still fast, the riffing is more audible, the vocals offer way more variation, and despite the fact that the keyboard is a constant it seems to have taken a step backwards in domination. It is a great song, and if they keep this up (and add a real drummer) their next output will be supreme. The video for Into the unknown looks pretty good. I guess it’s low-budget, but definitely a good one as they’ve decided to go for some artistry. It doesn’t show just the band members in a room playing the track (like so many other metal videos), but actually tells a story. There’s also a short ‘making of’-part, where they all share their thoughts on the video. Everything’s in Polish, but thankfully with English subtitles. However they could definitely use someone to look over the grammar next time.

Tracklist:
01. Prologue
02. Stream of obscure consciousness
03. And I’ve awaken
04. Pluralis majestatis
05. Lost lonely soul
06. Into the unknown
07. Epilogue
08. Upon the crimson moon