Monomyth - "Exo" (Album Review)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 18/03/2016

Label: Suburban Records

The quintet from The Hague deal in a potent brand of Hawkwind-style space rock, driven by relentless krautrock rhythms, coated in a sticky stoner fuzz.  The band employs hypnotic repetition to cosmic effect throughout the five tracks that make up new LP “Exo”. The languid “Uncharted” begins the voyage, a minimal groove emerging from a cloud of intergalactic synth squall.  The highlight of “Exo” though comes in the form of the hulking robotic funk of “LHC”, a huge ten minute propulsive groove, powered by layers of pulsing electronics and choppy riffs. Imagine Zombi covering the theme from Knight Rider with a little help from Colour Haze.  “Exo” is a compelling journey to the outer limits. Monomyth will have no problems enlisting willing recruits to join them on this trip to the beyond.

“Exo” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Uncharted

2). Surface Crawler

3). ET Oasis

4). LHC

5). Moebius Trip

The Review:

Most of the heavy psychedelic music I have enjoyed recently has relied on ear-bleeding distortion and barely restrained freak-outs. Monomyth offer a stark contrast to this, taking a more measured and restrained approach but delivering the same mind-expanding results. The quintet from The Hague deal in a potent brand of Hawkwind-style space rock, driven by relentless krautrock rhythms, coated in a sticky stoner fuzz.

The band employs hypnotic repetition to cosmic effect throughout the five tracks that make up new LP “Exo”. The languid “Uncharted” begins the voyage, a minimal groove emerging from a cloud of intergalactic synth squall. The track slowly unfurls over its fifteen-minute duration, crafting an otherworldly atmosphere, worthy of fellow instrumentalists Grails, then shattering the calm with some crunching riffage. The lack of super-heavy riffs throughout the rest of the album makes their appearance here all the more powerful.

This lack of crushing heaviness is no bad thing though. Monomyth are at their best when they bring the keyboards to the fore, offset by overdriven lead guitar. The cosmic synth textures of “Surface Crawler” and the warm, organ-infused melodies of “ET Oasis” offer strong examples of this combination. The dirty bass throb that powers “Moebius Trip” creates an almost glam stomp which evolves into a blissed-out jam. The highlight of “Exo” though comes in the form of the hulking robotic funk of “LHC”, a huge ten minute propulsive groove, powered by layers of pulsing electronics and choppy riffs. Imagine Zombi covering the theme from Knight Rider with a little help from Colour Haze.

“Exo” is a compelling journey to the outer limits. Monomyth will have no problems enlisting willing recruits to join them on this trip to the beyond.

“Exo” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Goblin Rebirth - 'Goblin Rebirth' (Album Review)

By: Hunter Young

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 22/06/2015

Label: Relapse Records

If you want something that is out there, entertaining, and from a legendary band, look no further than Goblin Rebirth's self titled debut. Bend your mind, but only to the best of beats with these Italian masters of the reptilian beat!

‘Goblin Rebirth’ CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Requiem For X
2. Back in 74
3. Book of Skulls
4. Mysterium
5. Evil In The Machine
6. Forest
7. Bolero
8. Rebirth

Goblin Rebirth is

Bass | Fabio Pignatelli
Drums | Agostino Marangolo
Keyboards | Aidan Zammit
Keyboards | Danilo Cherni
Guitars | Giacomo Anselmi

The Review:

Hailing from the golden age of horror cinema soundtracks, Goblin Rebirth rises like a gore soaked phoenix from the on/off again ashes of (Giallo soundtrack legends) Goblin! Soaked in scintillating synth, rocking with raw riffage, and completely jamming with retro vibes, the self titled Goblin Rebirth has it all for those looking for pure musical ecstasy.

Honestly sounding like a homage to themselves, ‘Goblin Rebirth’ is an ode to a time for movies when a sick, memorable soundtrack was almost a physical character in a movie. Like Wes Craven (RIP) and a slew of current projects (Gatekeeper, Oscillotron, Espectrostatic, et al.), they sound as if they made the album for a funk movie ranging from gore, to Giallo, to exploitation, to just damn fun(ky). They are all over the place, befitting a progressive rock band from the 70s, and they are the European instrumental version of Chicago, Yes, or King Crimson, who in themselves are huge band for fans of synth and atmosphere, just saying.

The album plays like a selection of experimental rock from guys who know what the hell they are doing. No part of this is sloppy, or going to leave you wondering why they did this or that; it's a solid offering from a more weird rock place. To really enjoy this, darken the lights, get your favourite repast on a table next to you, some snacks, a good selection of drink, and just jam out! Some of it is a bit slow, like ‘Book of Skulls’, but it resolves itself well, and the playing is top notch. They riff, ramble, jam, and scorch their fret boards in time with your soul, and have no singer to take you out of the experience. ‘Book of Skulls’ is also one of the more movie-esque selections, of which they kind of all are, but you can make up a movie in your mind to certain ones more than others. For a solid pick, musically, ‘Evil in the Machine’ is raucous and jubilant, with sinister tones and a rare spot of digitized vocals to hammer home that circuit that may carry more than just electricity.

If you want something that is out there, entertaining, and from a legendary band, look no further than Goblin Rebirth's self titled debut. Bend your mind, but only to the best of beats with these Italian masters of the reptilian beat!

‘Goblin Rebirth’ is available here

FFO: Zombi, King Crimson, Fabio Frizzi, John Carpenter, Ennio Morricone

Band info: Facebook | Twitter

Zombi - 'The Zombi Anthology' (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 21/04/2015

Label: Relapse Records

‘The Zombi Anthology’ CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Sequence 1

2). Sequence 2

3). Sequence 3

4). Sequence 4

5). Sequence 5

6). Sequence 6

7). Sequence 7

8). Sequence 8

9). Sequnce 8 (Alternate Version)

10). Gemini, Pt. 2

11). Twilight Sentinel

12). DMC-12

Zombi is:

Steve Moore

A.E. Paterra

Review:

For fans of late 70's, early 80's horror and sci-fi movies, Zombi provides the ultimate soundtrack to a time when good guys and bad guys alike had mullets, dangly ear rings, and lazer sights on their pistols.  A time when cars exploded for no reason and international terrorists stole floppy disks containing industrial secrets and sold them to the highest bidder. A time when karate could solve all your problems and the undead walked the streets at night. If you enjoy Lamborghinis jumping hundreds of feet, landing unscathed, or motorcycles traveling through time, then listen to any Zombi record.

Zombi is a Pittsburgh-based instrumental duo, featuring Steve Moore on Keyboards and bass guitar, and Anthony Paterra on the drumset. The band is inspired by movie soundtracks of the past, think John Carpenter meets Neil Peart. Collecting tracks from their first 2 EP's, the Anthology is now available for the first time on vinyl, thanks to Relapse Records. 

The keyboards are thick and lush, but the virtuoso drumming of the band's later recordings is largely absent.  Instead, the first 9 tracks feature simple programmed drum loops that serve as a basic accompaniment to the eerie keyboard arrangements. As an avid Zombi fan and regular listener of their other albums, I was a bit thrown by the lack of a live drumset on this release, but once my ears adjusted, I could appreciate this album for what it is: a document of a great band in its early stages and the soundtrack to a non-existent horror/sci-fi movie.  The movie would be dark, low budget, gritty and violent, set in a dystopian future. There would definitely be cyborgs-- maybe an army of zombified cyborg hybrids with lazer cannons on their shoulders.  There would be creepy chase scenes through dark labyrinths, heads exploding, and karate, lots of karate.

The opening track, "Sequence 1," is a creepy, slow-paced piece in the lower register that conjures images of reanimated corpses lumbering through dark alleyways. I could see myself cranking this one on Halloween to scare the pants off young trick-or-treaters. As you progress through the album, each song could be the background music to a different movie scene. A slow pan through the laboratory of an evil corporation, then protagonists desperately climbing through airducts, with zombies clawing at their heels. You get the idea.

The final track on the album, "DMC-12," launches in with a furious prog-inspired drum assault. This is the kind of drumming you find throughout their later albums: fiery, thoughtful, and perfectly executed.  It's a truly fun album that serves as a solid prequel to the band's first official release (and my personal favorite), 2004's ‘Cosmos’. If you've ever seen a Dario Argento film or Tom Selleck's Runaway, you'll understand what this album is trying to achieve. I can't wait to pick this up on vinyl.

Words by: Doza Hawes

‘The Zombi Anthology’ is available here

For more information:

Like: https://www.facebook.com/ZombiBand

Listen: https://zombi.bandcamp.com/album/the-zombi-anthology

Tweet: https://twitter.com/zombiband

The Sludgelord News: Zombi Enter the Studio; Announce Anthology Reissue

Photo Credit: Dave Cerminara

Progressive instrumental duo ZOMBI have begun recording their sixth full-length and first new album in over four years.  The album will be self-produced by the band and recorded at Machine Age Studios in Pittsburgh, PA and Steve Moore Private Studio in Central NY State and will see a release later this year via Relapse Records.  

The record, which will consist of nine new songs and clock in at over 60 minutes, was heavily inspired by the band touring in 2013 with Italian prog legends Goblin. Their first tour in over six years allowed the duo to play as a band again instead of a collaborative studio project.  

Steve Moore commented on the new material: 

"It's a rock record - think of it as a follow up to Surface to Air. There are no techno jams or symphonic prog fantasies. No solo track interludes. It's dark and heavy. Live drums on every song and lots of bass guitar. We have officially moved from "studio project" mode back into "live band" mode."

A.E. Paterra added:

"The last time we sat down together in the same space, just the two of us, along with drums, bass guitar, and a couple synths, was back in 2005.  To be able to do that again was great, and we crafted more than 90% of this album out of pieces we composed together during sessions from the past year."

Additionally, Relapse Records will be reissuing ZOMBI's earliest recordings, The Zombi Anthology, this April. Long out-of-print and previously made available by the band themselves (over 10 years ago) in an extremely limited, CD-only run, this is the first time that ZOMBI's very first recordings have ever been available in stores. The Zombi Anthology represents ZOMBI at the peak of their horror-score obsession and will be released on CD/LP/Digital April 21st in North America, April 20th in the UK/World and April 17th in Germany/Benelux/Finland. 

Pre-Orders for The Zombi Anthology are available via this location while a trailer can be viewed here.

Source: Relapse Records