LORD SONNY THE UNIFIER “America’s Newest Hitmaker”

Interstellar Smoke Records, 2022

Music: Rock /Post Punk
Website: https://www.facebook.com/lordsonnytheunifier/
Duration: 43:12 (12 tracks)
Country: U.S.A

My introduction to Lord Sonny The Unifier was back in 2020, through their EP “All-New Information”. Shortly after giving it a spin, I do recall listening to the band’s entire discography that night. It was refreshing and different – something that I like exploring more. Since then I have listened to quite a lot of albums that were labelled as “Psychedelic” (the same vibe Sonny promises), but it was hard to match with what Sonny had released. Of course, there were certain albums under this umbrella that sounded better than Sonny, but the vibe was never a match. That’s why I was ecstatic when I learned the band is going to release a new album in 2023, and that I would be getting an early copy for review!

While the EP was heavily influenced by acts such as Queens of The Stone Age, and The Black Keys – this album was written in a way that it would serve as a homage to iconic bands such as Motörhead, The Clash and The Beatles. Since each band would have a distinct sound associated with them, the album had to be open-ended in terms of genre – leaving the listener to figure out whether it was indeed matching the adrenaline that Lemmy delivers through Motörhead or was it catchy enough to do justice for The Clash and The Beatles.

One good thing that stands out is the memorability of the songs. They are incredibly catchy and have a really good repeat value. There are certain songs you would want to revisit just to enjoy certain sections of it. Greg Jiritano reflected on the efforts it took to write this album.

“This one was realized during Covid lockdown. I was simultaneously building a new home and studio after the last one burnt down and writing the new album and like everyone, my thoughts were racing, battered and howling. The nail gun was pounding and the saws were slicing through steel and wood. The Laney amp was cranked and the vocals were on the edge. The titles tell best the tale of the tempest in the room, Black Eye Blues, Don’t Fall Apart, Howl!, Busy Making Love, Light Your Flare, We’re Electric, Loaded Life, While We Were Dozing, This High and Final Notice.”

Overall this is a nice album wherein you get to hear the direction Greg and co are taking for the next year. It will hit the shelves on March 3, 2023 – and I wouldn’t be surprised if it flies out of the deck almost immediately, as this would be a treat for all those who like Motörhead, The Clash and QOTSA.