Juninius – Sotera
Juninius – Sotera
Prosthetic Records
Release date: 26/06/26
Review by Oli Gonzalez
8.5/10
Some things are worth waiting a decade for, right? Since 2017’s critically acclaimed “Eternal Rituals for the Accretion of Light”, the USA’s Junius have gone seemingly into the wilderness. Though with a new revamped line-up and armed with a new record, “Sotera,” to be released via Prosthetic Records, what have Junius been up to in these past 10 years between releases?
One thing is abundantly clear.
“Sotera” leans heavily into post and groove avenues of metal. Especially when the band explore dissonant and abrasive guitar tones (like ‘The Oracle’ and ‘Summon Her’), much in the style of Cult Of Luna and Russian Circles. They utilise just the right amount of distortion too. Junius ride the delicate line between giving their riffs that crunching impact whilst retaining the necessary melody and clarity that makes the music still aesthetic and accessible. They get the balance just right, with the end product being one that certainly packs a punch but without being too aggressive or overwhelming.
Take ‘Initiatrix’ for instance. Here lives one absolute bruiser and unapologetic slobber knocker of a riff which demands to be played again and again! When you hear it, you’ll know what I mean. All instruments locking in unholy unison, like the parts of a freight train in motion. Though the calming resonance of Joseph’s voice (more on him shortly) provides an excellent juxtaposition, as well as the shoegazey synths providing elegant contrast (see ‘Lucifera’ for a psychedelic/shoegaze clinic!).
‘Darkwater’ also. Starting life as just a bass line, soon they are overlaid by a clean, shimmering guitar arpeggio. All of this provides breathing space, a calmer dynamic. Though this is all a ruse! See, this is all a ploy to build tension and intrigue, slowly and gradually. You’ll be slowly consumed by the tide’s unassuming force, then, before you know it, your corpse will be consumed by the violent maelstrom! You become powerless to resist, and no trace of you will be left behind.
It’s this wonderful pacing and understanding of human psychology that makes “Sotera” worth listening to! Every song is distinct and has a clear meaning and purpose, forming a whole greater than the sum of its parts! Some may not have the patience for songs that go way north of 10 minutes in duration. Something the genre is rife with. Though the majority of the songs on “Sotera” are presented in smaller, more manageable chunks, going against this genre convention, but in the best way possible.
For all these references to post-metal, it seems like some of the more gothic metal influences are overlooked. Listen to “Sotera” and tell me you’re not getting a Type O Negative or Swallow The Sun vibe? Joseph’s vocals complete this illusion, with a rich and deep resonance that, whilst they aren’t as deep or down in your boots as the late great Peter Steele, he does more than enough to hold his own with a respectable performance behind the mic! Usually sitting in a baritone style range with an almost half-spoken/half-sung appearance, he’s more than capable of upping the ante and unleashing fierce, distorted growls. The kind than when used as sparingly as they are in the album, their impact is truly felt and appreciated when unleashed.
It’s easy to get lost in the world of post-metal, dominated by the likes of Cult Of Luna, Russian Circles, Amenra, and Pelican. Though Junius demonstrates that they can more than compete with these titans, and “Sotera” is an empathetic statement of their ambition and ability.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Disciple
02. The Oracle
03. Summon Her
04. Initiatrix
05. Darkwater
06. Serpent
07. Lucifera
08. Scythian
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Oli Gonzalez and Ever Metal, with photos used with kind permission of Necroshons. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
