Philly-based garage punk outfit Soraia unveils their new EP, entitled Confessions from the Vena Cava, a five-track collection of rough and tough songs.
The title of the EP was borrowed from angiology. The largest vein in your body is the vena cava, which has two parts, called the inferior vena cava and the superior vena cava. They bring oxygen-poor blood back from other parts of your body to your heart for oxygenation.
Allegorically, the title implies the band’s recent oxygen-poor status: they had parted ways with their label and their producer. In a sense, the band lacked direction. At the suggestion of Diamond Dogs’ Sören ‘Sulo’ Karlsson, Soraia travelled to Sweden to work with producer Thomas Skogsberg, who led them along the rejuvenating path of punk.
Soraia is made up of Mansour (vocals, songwriting), Travis Smith (bass, co-songwriter, vocals), Brianna Sig (drums, vocals), and Mike Jaffe (guitar, vocals).
Entry points on the Confessions from the Vena Cava include the opener, “So Holy,” rolling out on a barbed wire guitar onslaught topped by Mansour’s wonderfully potent voice, lambasting the use of religion to vilify others.
A personal favorite because of its grinding, gritty textures and Mansour’s snarling vocals. “Body In The Backyard” rides a driving rhythm that gives the melody pressurized oomph. Tight vocal harmonies add to the unyielding intensity of the harmonics.
On “Children Of Lesser Prayers,” Mansour’s voice depicts darker tones flavoured by portentous timbres. For some reason, the song summons memories of L7 with vague hints of The Donnas. According to Mansour, “This song asks the question whether where a person is born determines the value of their prayers.”
“Looks Are Deceiving” slows things down a bit. Heavy, growling guitars and light percussion support Mansour’s evocative voice, revealing a moving, irresistible power ballad that’s simultaneously raw and vulnerable.
Akin to being pushed down a rocky hill, Confessions from the Vena Cava hits hard with its sense of gravitational momentum.
Upcoming Shows
September 11th // Stockholm, Sweden // Pet Sounds Bar
September 12th // Sundeberg, Sweden // Encore
September 18th // Malmö // Medley Malmö
October 2nd // New Haven, CT // Cafe Nine
October 3rd // New York, NY // Berlin Under A
October 4th // Boston, MA // Midway Cafe
October 5th // Somerville, MA // The Jungle
October 7th // Pawtucket, RI // News Cafe
October 9th // New London, CT // 33 Golden Street
October 10th // Philadelphia, PA // Milkboy
October 11th // Denville, NJ // Sweet Vinyl Cafe
October 23rd // Skien, Norway // Lundetangen
October 26th // Oslo, Norway // Biå
October 31st // Oslo, Norway // Martins Pub Lillestrøm
November 1st // Austvatn, Norway // Odal Rocke Klubb