After An Emphatic Stomp, Larkin Poe Never Let Up On ‘Venom & Faith’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

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The nom de plume for sisters and multi-instrumentalists Rebecca and Megan Lovell, Larkin Poe was named for an early ancestor who was both a Civil War veteran and a distant cousin of Edgar Allen Poe. It’s little wonder then that throughout their recording career they’ve managed to fashion a sound that’s been as insistent as it’s assertive. That’s never been truer than on their latest effort, Venom & Faith, a set of songs that start out with an emphatic stomp and rarely lets up, even though its final notes. A series of stirring, gospel-like shout-outs, it stays true to the duality hinted at in the title, thanks to equal additives of drive and determination.

Those qualities are affirmed throughout every song in the set, whether it’s a striking statement of purpose as expressed in “Honey Honey,” or the swampy sounding “Mississippi,” the track that immediately follows. Most of the songs are delivered at a fevered pitch, making the credence and conviction all the more palatable.

Venom & Faith is also notable for its geographical sprawl, veering from the aforementioned “Mississippi” and the sultry sound of California King” (“I’ve got a funny feeling, is it all in my head?”) to the rootsy, down-home revelry of “Blue Ridge Mountains” and the brazen, bare-fisted insurgence of “Hard Time Killing floor Blues.” This is, in a very real sense, a tribute to vintage tradition, unwashed and unrepentant.

“I’m a little unhinged I guess,” the duo sings on “Ain’t Gonna Cry,” but in fact it’s more a case of relating to their roots and eschewing any modern affectations. The two women have made a definitive statement, one that strips their sound down to its essence while further amplifying their intents. Rugged, rowdy, sassy and spirited, Venom & Faith proves a powerful combination.

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