Sophia Menefewnso's new album, "Unforgiven," arrives as a clarion call, emotionally raw and deeply necessary. Out in 2024, 13 tracks temptingly stay where a lot run screaming, revealing the warts and supernovas of surviving, swinging, and reclaiming. "Unforgiven" is far more than a debut. At 48 minutes and 38 seconds, it’s a defiant testament to healing through truth. Sophia Mengrosso is not metaphorically talking or draping her experience in poetic smoke. Instead, she names what must be called domestic violence, trauma, and silence, and in the process provides not just a story but a kind of sound solidarity. It’s not music that seeks to be taken pity on, but to wield its power.
The album lands with a chilling certainty, and the stark lyricism is a kind of emotional production. But the title track, “Unforgive,” forms the album's emotional nucleus. Haunting vocals are draped over a minimalist backdrop as Sophia rips betrayal and survival apart with polished precision. It’s a song that catches you mid-breath, not to grieve, but to encapsulate. Another standout is “Another Dose,” a bruised, lovely ballad that examines the cyclical nature of pain and healing. Her delivery is hushed, but there is no mistaking her determination. Amid the chorus’s surge, her emotional candor and intricate storytelling make it hard not to be carried away.
Each of its 13 tracks is a chapter in this fiercely intimate pursuit. There are no fillers here. From the sepia-tinted atmosphere to the spare, deliberate arrangements, everything serves Sophia’s purpose: to speak the truth, not just for herself, but for anyone who has ever felt silenced. In this case, "Unforgiven" isn’t asking for forgiveness, demanding recognition. Sophia Mengrosso has made work as cathartic as it is brave. It’s not an easy listen, but it’s one to haunt you long after the last note’s been played.
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