If there’s one thing you can count on with Larkin Poe, it’s their ability to deliver raw, visceral rock with a side of Southern grit. The Lovell sisters, Rebecca and Megan, are back with Bloom, and if you loved their Grammy-winning Blood Harmony, this follow-up is bound to keep you hooked.

Now, I’ve been a fan of Larkin Poe for a while. Their mix of Southern rock, blues, and Americana feels as familiar as an old favorite vinyl, but they’ve always been about more than just blending genres. Bloom feels like a perfect culmination of their growth. It’s not just a record about rocking out (though there’s plenty of that), but one about embracing yourself, warts and all.

The album opens strong with “Mockingbird,” where Rebecca’s commanding vocals lead the charge. It’s a track that sets the tone for what’s to come, with themes of vulnerability and strength woven into the fabric of every note. Megan’s lap steel, ever the centerpiece of their sound, twists through the track like a second voice, adding that Southern charm with a hint of pain. It’s a beautiful beginning, but let me tell you—this record has plenty of standouts that show the band has really stepped up their songwriting game.

What Bloom really excels at is showing the Lovell sisters as both a musical duo and individual artists. Their harmony? It’s absolutely killer. There’s a reason the duo’s vocals are compared to legends like the Everly Brothers—when these two harmonize, you feel it in your bones. And it’s this connection that really shines through on the album’s title track, “Bloom,” a perfect closer that shows just how far these sisters have come in their twenty-year journey.

In a time where too many artists are chasing trends, Larkin Poe continues to stand firm. They don’t need to follow the pack—they are the pack. Bloom isn’t about reinvention; it’s about embracing what’s always been theirs and pushing it even further.

If you’re looking for an album that balances raw energy with thoughtfulness, rock with introspection, Bloom is the one. It’s a celebration of who they are and the power of owning your story—something the Lovell sisters have been doing for two decades now, and this album proves they’re only getting started.