Review by Saxy S for Plini - An Unnameable Desire (2026)

The problem with trying to sound epic in a progressive framework is that it just makes you look selfish. Plini's music in the past has had this quiet epicness surrounding albums like Homemade Cities and Impulse Voices. The issue that I have with An Unnamable Desire is that the "epicness" has now been recognized and Plini is going to do everything they can to replicate it, instead of letting it flow naturally. The heavier moments on "Manala" and the closer "The Time Will Pass Anyway" leaves this listener in an underwhelmed state. I can't deny that they transition on the closing track from heavy, djent influenced openings, to the soaring guitar leads and wide open foundation sounds really neat, but it also feels so scripted.

I know that An Unnamable Desire is scripted, but it isn't supposed to "feel" like it. Some of my favourite records of all time have a sense of improvisation to them and you can even hear that on earlier Plini albums. It does happen here sometimes, but their regularity is limited. Plini's guitar soloing has found a very comfortable place to rest, and the grandiose style suffers because of it. The solo guitar loses character, passion and purpose when the noodling becomes formulaic. 

It's not a bad album per se; I actually think it is quite good. But in an attempt to chase the unattainable goal, Plini have released their most uninspired album to date. Adding a string ensemble for more than half of the record and overbloating the soundscape and the epicness leaves the records more genuine moments feeling more hollow.

Best Songs: Canyon, Now & Then, Vespertine

For Fans Of: Intervals, Animals as Leaders, Haken