SONJA – Loud Arriver
Release Date: 16th September 2022
Label: Cruz Del Sur Music
Bandcamp
Genre: Hard Rock, Melodic Metal, Post Punk, Gothic.
FFO: The Cult, Foo Fighters, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sumerlands.
Review By: Mark Waight
Loud Arriver is the absolutely fantastic debut album from American Hard Rock and Metal outfit Sonja. It’s hard enough being a female artist in the male dominated world of rock and metal, so the challenges facing a transgender artist must be very daunting indeed. Sonja have faced those challenges head on and have announced their arrival on the scene with an “right out of the park” debut collection of extraordinary rock songs that should silence any narrow-minded critics out there.
Sonja is Melissa Moore (Guitar, Vocals), Ben Brand (Bass) and Grzesiek Czapla (Drums).
Loud Arriver is testament to the band’s motto of “Go big or go home” by being right up there with the very best offerings of 2022 and in a world where music is judged purely on its artistic quality it should be an absolute smash. The album is laden full of some of the best riffs I have heard for a very long time, and the energy Sonja put into each, and every song is clear for all to hear. Loud Arriver is hard rock of the highest order, played with passion and power to discuss once taboo subjects that are close to the hearts of the members of Sonja.
Opening track When the Candle Burns Low is a vocally beautiful and haunting song with a fantastic flow to the changing pace of the musical arrangement. Nylon Nights is a hard rocking track played at pace with a ton of attitude and fabulous energy – excellent!
Third track, Pink Fog, is a slightly slower track with a heavy bass riff and dark undertones creating an emotionally charged mood, where Wanting me Dead is a tune of contrasts between lighter melodic sections and faster punk style riffs giving it a sharp and edgy feel.
Fuck, Then Die, has a very retro feel to it with some old school 80s New Wave style guitar and bass playing, it’s superb! Track six, Daughter of the Morning Star opens with some top-drawer drumming that eases you into another banging tune with some great fist in the air sing-along moments to boot.
Moans from the Chapel is a proper high tempo hard rock track with awesome vocal harmonies, and is guaranteed to get you jumping up and down with the beat and sparks flying from your fingertips to your air guitar.
Title track, Loud Arriver, is a big closing anthem which will cement Sonja’s arrival in the rock/metal scene, with a statement that says doubt this band at your peril. They are here, yes, they may have a mountain to climb, but Sonja is more than capable of conquering it! I cannot pick a favourite track on Loud Arriver by Sonja, as they are all smoking hot! Let’s just go with Sonja know how to Rock!
Sonja has a band mission statement, “We aren’t interlopers. We’ve been here all along. Now that we have passed step one, we are locked and loaded and have a massive kingdom to overthrow”. All I can do is to wish them well on this incredible journey and to hope they truly achieve their goals and dreams!
(4.5 / 5)
