Meet Lord Sonny the Unifier, an alt-rock band based in Brooklyn.
Made up of Greg Jiritano (vocals, guitar), Tyler Wood (keys, percussion, vocals), Derek Nievergelt (bass), and Carmine Covelli (drums, percussion, vocals), the band premieres the music video for ‘Right In Your I’ today on Tattoo.
The designated driver for the band is Jiritano, who began playing guitar when he was eight-years-old, started his first band when he was 12, and was performing in bars in NYC by time he was 16. In 2015, his recording studio literally went up in flames and Jiritano confronted a BIG choice: surrender, or regroup. He chose to regroup.
Hooking up with Covelli on drums, they eventually added Wood, who knew and recommended Nievergelt. Lord Sonny the Unifier came into existence and the album – FINAL NOTICE! – was recorded.
The title of the album refers to the ultimatum people receive in the mail after a series of preliminary warnings. Payment is due immediately or seizure is imminent.
Jiritano says, “Sometimes it seems like we’re at the Final Notice stage. Better realize who’s creating this havoc, how to recognize them, why are they doing it, and what to do about them.”
Lord Sonny and the Unifier amalgamate dirty guitar synth-rock with supple psychedelic interfaces, producing a retro-flavored contemporary sound that’s contagious, distinctive, and potently expressive.
“Right In Your I” opens with a pounding groove flowing into muddy retro colors backed by lustrous voice-like harmonies from the synths. Fuzzed out guitars fill the tune with dark, ominous energy, as the compelling rhythm marches forward relentlessly. I love the penetrating piano and muscular drums on the solo section. As the harmonics culminate, a drum fill announces the music’s transition to low-level almost jazz-laced resonance, riding a flute and dense bass line.
Jiritano’s voice, rasping and growling with intense timbres, conveys harsh-textured force, adding to the nuance of uneasiness.
The video, directed by B.D. Pironti, is a work of art, presenting human figures adorned with animal masks, like something from Animal Farm. Some of the animals are bullies, while others are victims. The power and sway of the bullies is a self-sustaining process, increasing according to inequality, unless halted.
“Right In Your I” is excellent. Lord Sonny the Unifier definitely delivers cogent musical oomph.
