Photo by: M. Darcy
Official press release:
Boston post-metal band, Junius, will release its new LP, Sotera, on June 26 via Prosthetic Records. Sotera is Junius’ first full-length LP in nearly a decade, following 2017’s Eternal Rituals for the Accretion of Light, a recording that Rolling Stone noted, “takes the band’s alternately soaring and crashing sound to even more diverse places.” Produced by Junius vocalist/guitarist, Joseph E. Martinez and Tom Syrowski (Blackberry Smoke, Mastodon), Sotera, in Martinez’s words, “feels like a rebirth for the band” and “is an act of devotion as much as it is a piece of music.” Pre-order/save Junius‘ Sotera at this location.
Harmonizing bright transcendence, heightened consciousness, coiled ear-worming, and emotional swell in like degree, Sotera’s ambient shoegaze metal is expansive and deep, best experienced unhurriedly. Call it sound as relief and release; intense undercurrents of magnetic volume attached to an almost symphonic use of motion. Fully realized music as exhilarating as it is ghostly. Whereas earlier Junius records wrestled with cataclysms, escaping Samsara and what might come after death, Sotera shifts the focus toward something more immediate: restoring balance through the worship of the divine feminine. Offers Martinez:
“The word Sotera is the feminine form of savior or protector in Greek, and it perfectly captured what the album was circling around. This album is a musical invocation that explores the divine feminine as a force of transformation and balance. Medea stands at the threshold. In Sotera we’re calling upon Hekate, her mother, to guide us in her resurrection. The Oracle as a loving but ignored prophet. Lucifera appears as the punished light-bringer. The Initiatrix is the one who begins the rite.”
The first track released from Sotera is the surging “Initiatrix”. Direct and succinct, “Initiatrix” explores the use of intentional gestures as boosters for cognitive and emotional change. Stream a striking video for Junius‘ “Initiatrix”, created by Joseph E. Martinez, below. Martinez says:
“‘Initiatrix’ distills the album into 3 minutes and 23 seconds, and it captures the heart of the record. It’s about willingly stepping into a ritualistic transformation, asking to be changed and accepting the consequences of that choice.”
Sotera track listing:
- “Disciple”
- “The Oracle”
- “Summon Her”
- “Initiatrix”
- “Darkwater”
- “Serpent”
- “Lucifera”
- “Scythian”
