Mena

I’m not sure if metal folk is a true musical genre, but there is no other way to describe Mena’s raw-voiced melding of acoustic guitar with brooding, garage rock lyrics. Early Metallica often came to mind as I listened to her bemoan her inability to sustain relationships, keep away from the Devil, or live authentically in a pressure-filled world. No quirkiness, no cuteness, no apologies. Thank god! All you’ll find here is ominous portent and rasping declarations of self. If only more female singer-songwriters would follow Mena’s example and make music with the same aggression and attitude. Somewhere, Carole Pope is smiling. (Karyn Bonham)

CD, [email protected]