So, I recently listened to the new album of Sonja, and I did not really like this combination of alternative/industrial and gothic elements with heavy riffing. I'm just not fond of the entire concept and atmosphere.

The guitar tone sounds so early 2000's and it is just as bad as listening to Geoff Tate's current guitarists playing "Queen of The Ryche" with that terrible crunchy modern rock sound. Sure there might be some clever riffs here and there but they are usually combined with bad-sounding disharmonic chords that ruin the entire experience for me. Also, I don't recall there ever being a single memorable lead in any of the songs and this tends to bring to my mind the majority of nu-metal songs. No solos, only bland shapes, and constant repetitiveness.

That's what this record is doing. In addition, almost all of the songs sound the same to me. Honestly, there is close to 0 variety. I don't even know how this band was booked to play in Up The Hammers next year. I think Sonja is the black sheep of that festival. They are not epic, not speed nor do they even sound classic(but then again you have Enforcer playing, so I guess any band could play in UTH). If they played a headlining concert with local bands such as Perseptik and Avith, then it would make more sense.

I appreciate all of the musicians' abilities but I can't force myself to enjoy a record like "Loud Arriver". So while "Loud Arriver" attempts to do something unique in the scene, I would prefer to listen to something that is hard as steel but captivating. I was told by some people who recommended me this album, that it would blow my mind but instead, it left me yawning and dissatisfied. Also I forgot to mention that Melissa has your average generic alternative rock voice that could be heard on most early 00's and early 10's alternative music albums.