Origin:	Cleveland, OH, USA
Genres:	Gothic Metal, Black Metal

Somnus

Somnus was formed in 1995, and managed to release two albums during their reign (they broke up in early 2003). They are often mentioned as a black metal band, in particular a band influenced by the likes of Cradle Of Filth, but to these ears Somnus is more in the dark gothic metal camp, with flowing keyboards, ambitious songwriting, mostly death/black vocals (augmented by some female vocals), and other influences from the doom and black metal genres. This style of music is hardly in vogue in America (much less Ohio), which might have played a part in their breakup. Nonetheless, they showed plenty of promise, and certainly in European circles these guys (and gal) might have had a better chance at success.