Souls Extolled
Soulsex
Chicken Ranch Records
Souls Extolled are a powerhouse band from Austin, Texas. The members come from diverse backgrounds: guitarist Zach Black is a literati who cut his teeth in punk and rock bands; bassist JP Ortiz has a long history playing with blues and world music bands; and drummer Joe Valadez comes from a jazz background and played in marching bands. Together, they set out to reimagine punk rock, blending their diverse influences into a high-energy sound.
Soulsex opens with a rampaging storm called “The Cut.” Zach spits out the lyrics like someone who has listened to a lot of hip hop. The guitars wail over a funky bass line. I’m not sure what’s going on on the West side, but it sounds scary. “Triumphant Monsters” brings in a rock steady beat and lyrics pondering the afterlife. “Do you believe in triumphant monsters / All I see is the coming disaster / Do you believe in the ever after / Bend your knee to the only master.”
The overall vibe on this album is living in the shadow of some sort of apocalypse. “A Star is Born” seems to be about love and nuclear war. “Gold” closes the album with a rolling, art rock fantasy
