Lia Juno—Tantrum

I think if ever an EP cover were to give an indication of the music within, it’s this one. The overall image is very disturbing, but when you look closer, it’s just a photograph, ripped and put back together again, albeit incorrectly, resulting in a picture that I’m sure was once beautiful, and now is so very fractured.

The EP opens with “Needle” and right out of the gate, it has an ominous tone, further borne out when the vocals begin. Although the words are sung beautifully, there is a real vulnerability to them. Add to that the music, which hangs over it, dark and foreboding, and it gives that sense that you want to look away, but you can’t.

This darkness oozes over into “Sternum”, whose lyrics are somewhat graphic and visceral. The musical accompaniment adds to this brooding darkness. Again, the vocals have a beauty to them, but when the chorus comes in, they let go, giving way to the pent-up frustration.

“Nowhere Alone” opens somewhat conventionally. At first glance, it’s a pretty straightforward rock song, and I was waiting for more delicious darkness, but it just didn’t come. I think with the prior two tracks, I was leaning into that darker side and expected it to appear in some shape or form here, but it didn’t.

The EP closes out with “Specimen”, and I was immediately captivated by the vocals. This was, I think, precisely what I was expecting from the prior track. It has a conventional feel, but musically that tinge of something darker is added, which I think was more in keeping with the first two tracks. The guitar work reminded me a little of Weezer, which is certainly no bad thing.

A really interesting EP. I think I was totally sold on the darker elements, so when one of the tracks didn’t follow that vibe, to me it stuck out a little. But this is, I think, more because I don’t just review the individual tracks, but also the tracks as a collective entity. Lia is certainly an artist where I’m excited to hear future releases.