Joy and the Wildfire have set the world ablaze with Aftershocks, equal parts raw emotion and stadium-ready anthems. Frontwoman Samantha Joy Pearlman leads the charge with a voice that’s rich, textured, and utterly captivating—like if silk and fire had a baby. With Meghan Doyle’s electrifying guitar work, Jared Decker’s thunderous drums, and Sean Decker’s pulsing basslines, this band is carving out a space where indie grit meets arena-rock grandeur.
The title track, “Aftershocks,” kicks things off with an earthquake of emotion and sound. It starts with a restless rhythm, steadily building into a massive, heart-racing anthem. Pearlman’s soaring vocals and the layered backing harmonies make it feel like you’re being lifted by the very tremors she’s singing about. And just when you think you’ve got your footing, the bridge hits—gritty, intense, and packed with enough adrenaline to make your heart skip a beat.
Then there’s “Tears in Brooklyn,” a razor-sharp critique wrapped in shimmery riffs and a pulsating beat. It’s got that effortlessly cool Pretenders-esque swagger, with a bite of modern frustration. The chorus bursts open like a firework over the East River, filled with biting wit and undeniable catchiness. This one’s for everyone who’s sick of trust-fund kids gentrifying their favorite dive bars.
And let’s talk about “Misunderstood.” This track refuses to sit still, shifting from delicate, airy vulnerability to full-throttle, guitar-blazing rebellion in the blink of an eye. The rumbling drums and brass accents make it feel almost theatrical, but in the most thrilling way possible. And that serpentine guitar solo is absolute perfection.
Aftershocks dares you to dance in the wreckage of the storm it hailed itself. Joy and the Wildfire setting fires that scorch the ground. Check out the height of injury on Spotify.
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Photo credits: Anastasiia Litvinova
Review by: Naomi Joan
1 comment
Yes! Great album, great live band!