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SONJA
Loud Arriver

Cruz Del Sur Music (2022)
Rating: 8/10

The impressive heavy metal debut albums keep on coming, and this time it’s the turn of Philadelphia act Sonja featuring the fiery vocals of Melissa Moore (Rumpelstilskin Grinder / Crosspitter / ex-Absu).

It was the track ‘Nylon Nights’ which turned me onto these guys. The band appealed due to their almost loose glammy, yet melodic edge and the clever promotional video.

What I really love about Sonja though is the variety; the dashes of Gothic flavour, the poppy vapours, the intriguing vocals and nostalgic 80s metal flair. But there’s so much more too as evidenced on the opening track ‘When The Candle Burns Low…’ which boasts an industrial edge, while ‘Pink Fog’ has a contemporary hard rock strut.

Loud Arriver is an album that may not appeal to the masses, probably because of the diversity it displays. After all, it’s not what you’d call a standard heavy metal album, far from it in fact. ‘Fuck, Then Die’ has an almost post-punk or Gothic sway with remote vocal wisps, and ‘Moans From The Chapel’ drips with an 80s Euro metal charm.

It may be a bold statement but I have a feeling that Sonja could be the next big thing with the right team behind them. Hopefully they’ll maintain this sound rather than succumbing to dilution, but if you like music you can’t quite put your finger on then Loud Arriver could well be the next rock ‘n’ roll thing for you.

Neil Arnold

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