SONJA
Sonja’s Melissa Moore breaks the chains of her black metal past
Loud Arriver
CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC
Former Absu guitarist embarks on a journey of transformation
LOUD ARRIVER MARKS
the first full-length release from former Absu guitarist Melissa Moore since being ousted from the band in 2017 – soon after telling them that she was trans. Drummer Grzesiek Czapla, allegedly the only member to show support, joins her alongside bassist Ben Brand for a threepiece that harnesses extreme metal roots to give their anthemic take on classic heavy metal a keen cutting edge.
The brainchild of Melissa and Grzesiek, Sonja began in 2014, with Loud Arriver recorded by 2019, only for their plans to be scuppered by the pandemic. In the interim, Melissa released a demo with her death/black metal outfit Crossspitter, the lo-fi extremity having much more in common with Absu than the significant departure that Sonja marks. It’s a symbol of emergence that has evidently proved cathartic for Melissa, who debuts as lead vocalist on the record.
She has a pealing clean vocal capable of impressive falsettos that, alongside some standout trad metal riffing, proves the focus for a record that’s stuffed full of killer moments.
When The Candle Burns Low… introduces its themes and motifs gradually, its melancholia blown apart by Nylon Nights, where the riffs really kick in – all leather-clad, hook-laden and looking for trouble. Pink Fog follows, built on the kind of staccato riff alarum that embeds itself in your cerebrum to haunt you for the rest of your day.