It seems appropriate that Philly-based rockers Soraia have opened shows for Joan Jett over the years because just like the queen of cool, they play a muscular, guitar-heavy brand of rock, free of all current musical trends and pretentions.
Across 10 new tracks off their latest and third LP, Bloom, the band lean in on the distorted power chords and heavy drumming that have built them a slew of famous fans from Jett to Steven Van Zant (who ended up signing the band to his label). Singer ZouZou Mansour has a perfect snarl that sounds remarkably like Pat Benatar.
The first two tracks, the raucous “Jokers, Thieves, and Liars” and the slow, steady build of “Tight-Lipped” give a solid road map for what follows. “Ultimately, our new album is about rising above all of the slights, injuries, and traumas we’ve all experienced—personally and together—and positioning ourselves into a new place we’ve chosen,” says Mansour. “A place with renewed courage and vitality. We realize we are all deserving of a life driven by our choices and power.”
That’s not to say the band can’t also write a stellar love song—just one more akin to their style: “A thousand paper cuts sting down to the bone/Feelin’ and fightin’, I stand alone… Know what I want and all I want is you,” she sings on “I Seek Fire.” Not exactly “More Than Words,” but the sentiment is still there. Even when they do slow it down a bit, on “Jackson’s Song,” they still manage to build up to heavy guitars. Elsewhere, there is a stellar cover of Kiss’ “Strutter.”
The record may be filled with overcoming slights and traumas but healing and triumph have never sounded so cathartic before.
