Photo by Mathilde Richard
Embracing the darkest facets of classic post-punk gothic rock, French outfit Soror Dolorosa returns to prowl under moonlight once more with their brooding and atmospheric new single “Tear It Up” and its visually arresting music video. Channeling the suave essence of the 90s and the iconic style of the devil may care swagger of the Sisters of Mercy at their peak, the track is a herald for their upcoming full-length album Mond, set to release this October — just in time for the season of the witch.
On the introductory single for the new album, the band explains:
“Our first single ‘Tear It Up’ is also the opening track of the new album,” mastermind Andy Julia explains. “This magic song was composed in a one-take. Inspired by Jean-Baptiste Marquet’s composition, the lyrics just appeared all of a sudden in one session. This also marks Jean-Baptiste’s entry as a composer into the band as he had joined us after the release of ‘Apollo’ in 2018. The lyrics revolve around the acceptance of childhood traumata, and the transcendence that we can reach from this – if we dare to face them. ‘Tear It Up’ was the obvious choice for a first single and video clip taken from ‘Mond’. When we asked Mathilde, the actress in the video, she declared that this song was made for her. We had an unforgettable experience playing at La Maison des Choeurs in Montpellier in October 2023. This made it an easy decision for us to return to the place in order to shoot the ‘Tear It Up’ video in this wonderful 17th century neo-classical church.”
Marquet, a recent addition to the band, brings a fresh creative energy, his influence palpable in the song’s composition. The lyrics delve into the acceptance of childhood traumas and the transcendence that can be achieved by confronting them—a thematic prelude to the depths explored in Mond.
Watch the video for “Tear It Up” below:
In a time when many long for the halcyon days of post-punk and New Wave, Soror Dolorosa burns with a smoldering fire of dark resurgence. Their music echoes the eras of Sisters of Mercy, Fields of the Nephilim, and Depeche Mode, yet is anything but nostalgic retreading. The band infuses classic dark elements with a contemporary vigor, thanks in part to James Kent, aka Perturbator, whose mixing and mastering have given Mond a lush, vibrant sound.
The lineup of Andy Julia (vocals), Hervé Carles (bass), Jean-Baptiste Marquet (guitars), and live guitarist Xavier Pinel, along with guest contributions from Nicolas Horvath on piano and James Kent’s arrangements, collectively shape an album that is as expansive as it is intimate. Mond is a testament to their growth and resilience, marked by personal introspections and sonic explorations.
Visually, Mond is equally compelling. Andy Julia’s cover artwork, complemented by the layout by Hannah Hassouly, captures the album’s dark allure. Available in a 36-page hardcover 2CD artbook with a bonus CD Aurora, as well as limited gold and black vinyl LPs, Mond is poised to be a love letter to fans of old-school gothic rock.
Mond is out on October 4, 2024, via Prophecy Productions.
Pre-order Mond here.
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