Sigma Alpha Iota

56 Fall 2025 • sai-national.org Album Reviews WE ARE HERE: AMERICAN VOICES FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS Coro Allegro David Hodgkins, Artistic Director Kareem Roustom, composer Eric Banks, composer Navona Records Released July 11th, 2025 C oro Allegro is Boston's premier choir for LGBTQ+ musicians and their allies. Under the artistic direction of David Hodgkins, they play an integral role in the musical life of Boston, and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. We Are Here is their newest album, featuring performances of pieces by Kareem Roustom and Eric Banks. Every track on the album is united under the common theme of social justice, and each composer tackles these ideas in their own way. Roustom's five-movement Rage Against the tyrant(s) is a haunting marriage of orchestra and choir, utilizing both to drop the listener into war zones and protests. "The Street Awakens," Rage's first movement, lifts its lyrics directly from the protest chants of uprisings in Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, and Palestine: 'Bread... freedom... social justice / This is our list of urgent demands..." "Aleppo the Necklace Broke and All the Words Fell Apart," track 3 on the album, sets to music the words of Syrian poet and novelist Mohja Kahf. The overlapping words and resounding orchestra conjure shocking images of a terrifying and heartbreaking war zone. Genuinely, I have never had a choral piece keep me on the edge of my seat, and even keep me up at night, like this one did. Eric Banks' "Aluta continua: 'The Passion of David Kato Kisule'" is like a musical audio drama. Thirty-two minutes pass by like nothing as GRAMMY-nominated countertenor Reginald Mobley boldly steps into the titular role. The real Kisule played a major role in the Ugandan LGBTQ+ rights movement, especially in the late 2000s and early 2010s fighting against Uganda's "Kill the Gays" bill. In "Aluta continua," Coro Allegro functions as not only musicians, but actors; the way they sing quotes from figures such as Lou Engle, Giles Muhame, and Thomas Musoke is absolutely chilling, and it really sinks in just how insidious homophobia truly is. Anyone that can sing pretty much nonstop for thirty minutes has my utmost respect. And a special shoutout to Jonathan Hess and Robert Schulz for their excellent work on the marimba. One of my favorite quotes about music is from the SAI Chorale: "music is a kind and truthful speech." But music isn't always flowery. It doesn't always frolic through the garden with no care in the world. It's powerful. Raw. Truthful. And sometimes the acknowledgment of truth is the most painful thing of all. But I would argue that this is when music is at its best, and its most important. I'm just going to say this right now: out of the choral albums I've listened to (inside and outside reviews), this one is probably my favorite. We Are Here is available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and other streaming platforms. To purchase a copy, visit navonarecords.com or coroallegro.org. See Rebekah's bio on page 23. EVEN IN ARCADIA Sleep Token RCA Records Released May 9th, 2025 One of the most unique aspects of London-based Sleep Token is their "lore." The group is made up of singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Vessel, drummer II, bassist III, and guitarist IV. Obscured by ornate masks, thick robes, and black body paint, the anonymous musicians are dedicated to worshiping a god known as Sleep. Each song is an offering to the deity—a token, if you will. A whole essay can be devoted to decoding the Easter eggs and references hidden in the lyrics and music. Even without the additional story, though, Sleep Token is still something to be experienced. This is especially the case for their fourth studio album, Even in Arcadia. While officially classified as metal, Sleep Token doesn't just bend the rules of genre; they take the rules, tear them into itty bitty pieces, and scatter them on the breeze. One song can dip its toes into a multitude of different styles. "Caramel," a lamentation of fan behavior and Vessel's unique struggles with fame, combines extreme vocals, double bass pedaling and other elements of metal with addictive, danceable Latin-inspired pop. "Emergence" moves through CCM, metal, and R&B with ease, and with percussion that demands your attention before ending with a soulful saxophone and piano duet. "Provider" may have some listeners clutching their pearls as sultry R&B sinks its teeth into a worshipful metal ballad. Other standouts include "Gethsemane," "Damocles," and "Look Into Windward." This album—Sleep Token in general, really—feels like Sunday morning. Warning: when listening, you may feel the urge to raise your hands, or fold them together in prayer. Sleep Token demonstrates that music can connect us to something bigger than ourselves, whether that be a god (or gods), the universe, or just the feeling of togetherness. Even in Arcadia is available on CD and vinyl, and for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.

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