Monday 13 June 2016

Monoliths - "Monoliths" (Album Review)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 01/07/2016
Label: Dry Cough Records |
Crown And Throne Ltd



This self-titled debut respects the crushing pedigree of the band’s constituent members while heading into uncharted territory. Over the course of two 16 minute behemoths, Monoliths create an absorbing world of bludgeoning repetition and psychedelic heaviness, fusing a more exploratory approach with the filth and weight of the heaviest doom

“Monoliths” DD//LP track listing:

1). Perpetual Motion
2). The Omnipresence of Emptiness

The Review:

Few bands live up to their name quite like Monoliths. Members of Ommadon, Bismuth and Moloch have combined to forge a collaboration every bit as colossal as you might expect from some of the bleakest and nastiest bands the UK has to offer.

This self-titled debut respects the crushing pedigree of the band’s constituent members while heading into uncharted territory. Over the course of two 16 minute behemoths, Monoliths create an absorbing world of bludgeoning repetition and psychedelic heaviness.

The aptly titled “Perpetual Motion” opens proceedings. The motion in question is an aggressive, sludgy trawl based on a single riff that is in a constant state of flux. The band strike a perfect balance between elegantly structured restraint and free jamming. Imagine a lumbering, doom equivalent of Mike Vest’s space cadets, Blown Out, and you won’t be disappointed.

The Omnipresence of Emptiness” takes the template of “Perpetual Motion” and drags if further into the beyond. The track begins with a monumental riff that sounds like all of Om’s finest moments, played simultaneously at foundation-shaking volume. The scratchy, urgent bursts of lead guitar, hinted at previously, are given free reign here, blossoming into more grandiose swathes of noise as the track builds in intensity. Carefully deployed vocals make an appearance too, guttural barks and shrieks adding to the cacophony.
Monoliths have crafted an intriguing debut here, fusing a more exploratory approach with the filth and weight of the heaviest doom. Hopefully this is just the start of their compelling journey into the charred pit of oblivion.

Monoliths” is available here (UK and Europe) and here (USA)

Band info: facebook