Het internationale gezelschap dat zichzelf Sojourner noemt wist mijn aandacht te trekken middels de gigantisch grote uil op de hoes van hun minder dan een jaar geleden album Premonitions. Al snel werd ik meegesleurd in hun epische soundscapes vol schoonheid en contrast. Atmospheric Black Metal is de term die er ook wel opgeplakt wordt. Ik noem het gewoon 'pakkend'.
Er bewoog sinds die release toch heel wat binnen de band met als gevolg dat er dit jaar niet minder dan drie nieuwe bandleden te tellen zijn waaronder nieuwe vocaliste Lucia Amelia Emmanueli de meest in het oor springende is.
In deze nieuwe bezetting werd een nieuwe EP opgenomen, Perennial, die op 4 juni zal verschijnen in digitale vorm en in een zeer beperkte ivoorkleurig vinyl versie via Napalm Records.
Het nummer ligt in het verlengde van de songs op Premonition en is dus niet minder dan bloedstollend mooi. De bijhorende videoclip lijkt op het eerste zicht meer op een natuurdocumentaire maar speel hem eens een paar keer na elkaar af en u zult merken dat de muziek en de beelden perfect samen gaan.
Lees
Like no other, SOJOURNER captivates the listener by combining harsh black metal influences and instrumental folk interludes with atmospheric soundscapes, while painting a picture of unexplored nature alongside an endless journey towards the horizon.
Songwriter and musician Mike Lamb says: "When I approached the songwriting for this mini EP I wanted to do something special that encompassed both where we began and where we are today, because while we've grown and changed over the last 6 years we still have the same passion and vision for the band that brought us together initially. I approached both the songwriting and recording for this EP in the same way that I did on Empires of Ash and The Shadowed Road, even down to recording all of the instruments back in New Zealand again for the first time since we began, in the same room where I wrote 'Heritage of the Natural Realm' in 2015.
It also seemed like a fitting time to do something that sat somewhere between a reinterpretation of 'Heritage...' and a sequel of sorts for the second EP track, 'Relics of the Natural Realm', bringing our 2015 beginnings full circle back to where we are now and the band that we've evolved into in 2021. This is reflected in the cover art, again by our good friend Jordan Grimmer who did the original Empires of Ash cover, showing the meeting of SOJOURNER both past and present. We couldn't be happier with our incredibly talented new members, both of who turned in absolutely beautiful vocal performances, and we're so excited about the bright future ahead for the band."
“Perennial” comes along with the stunning hymn “Relics of the Natural Realm”, a sequel to the band’s very first song "Heritage of the Natural Realm", capturing the identity of wilderness transferred into beautiful melodies and enchanting vocals.
Throughout their meaningful lyricism, erupting with Emilio Crespo’s intense growls while being carried on via the ethereal vocals of new vocalist Lucia Amelia Emmanueli, SOJOURNER reaches the innermost soul, leaving a long lasting impact. With color of their own and unique musical identity, and every note of this exceptional progression created by songwriting genius Mike Lamb, the six-piece is ready to write another chapter in their marvelous book of atmospheric black metal tales.
