LORD SONNY THE UNIFIER “All-New Information”

Self released, 2020

Music: Psychedelic / Alternative Rock

Website:

https://www.facebook.com/lordsonnytheunifier

https://www.facebook.com/lordsonnytheunifier/

Duration: 15:00 minutes (4 tracks)

Country: U.S.A

Psychedelic Rock is a genre that I believe, is very underappreciated for its unique sonic experience and vibe. Although it takes time for one to get a hold of it, once you start liking it, it will slowly consume you – becoming addictive. It happened with me, and that’s why I was excited for Lord Sonny The Unifier’s – a band that not many would recognise, 2020 release. After listening to “Final Notice!” – band’s 2019 effort, I was hooked to their music and wanted more of what they had to offer. Eventually, as soon as I heard their story, my respect for the band – especially their frontman Greg Jiritano, went up. Before we head into the story, here is a bit about the band and their members. As of now, the band has a total of 4 members, with a seasonal member for backing vocals. While the brainchild, and guitarist Greg Jiritano sings, both the drummer and synth add backing vocals. The band is currently based out of Brooklyn.

Now for the story, it starts with Greg Jiritano himself. After losing his recording studio in 2015, Jiritano was convinced that his musical ambitions will come to a close. But, surprisingly, he took chances and formed the band with a bunch of mates. If only Jiritano walked away from taking this huge step by considering it as an uncertainty, there wouldn’t be Lord Sonny the Unifier or their 2020 album “All New Information”. Talking about the album, it comprises of 4 tracks, totalling at around 15 minutes. Each song touches the Psychedelic/Alternative aspect of Rock, and undoubtedly, the band has done a great job in offering something different from the stereotypical hard rock sound. Even though the band claim Queens Of The Stone Age, David Bowie, Sean Lennon, The Clash, and The Black Keys, as their main influences, they have made sure not to restrict themselves to their sound.

Their unique sound is evident in all the four tracks on this EP. Starting from the very first track “Knockout”, this 3 minute tracker is a great introduction to who Lord Sonny the Unifier is, and what their sound is. Since this will be the very first track that new listeners would listen, the band has done a decent job – hooking them with their music. But, things start getting interesting from the second track – “(All My Friends Live) Underground. This anthemic track is very melodic with a greater emphasis on the lyrics. The opening lines itself is catchy enough to hold you in place for the rest of the 3 minutes. The track even has a great story to go with it. According to Jiritano, the song is “a calling to join us and leave behind what society has embraced as the norms and the acceptable, the well trod path above”. Essentially, the track talks about the outsiders who meet a group of freaks in shadows.

The second half of the album is as solid as the first one. However, in my opinion, none of the tracks top the vibe that the second one, ” (All My Friends Live) Underground”, had. Probably one of the best tracks on this record – or one of THE best tracks that the band has ever written. A track, that will surely be considered as one of the OGs of the band, after they hit mainstream stardom. Overall, this is a perfect EP for all those who want to know what Psychedelic Rock is, and how different it is from Hard Rock. In a way, these guys can be considered as a perfect gateway band for this genre, as their take is more friendly to newcomers. Really looking forward to what these guys have in store for next year!

Tracklist:

1. Knockout
2. (All My Friends Live) Underground
3. I Love You World
4. Pay The Man (When You Leave)

Line-up:

Greg Jiritano – Vocals, Guitar
Tyler Wood – Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Carmine Covelli – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Derek Nievergelt – Bass
Amy Gordon – Backing Vocals

Rate: 8.5/10