Monobrow - NEW STUFF!
We featured Monobrow a while back, so when they got in touch about their new album, Bennington Triangle Blues, I was looking forward to seeing what this lot had been up to since our last look in. described as crafting a platter of heavy instrumental psych-rock featuring soaring guitar solos, melodic groove and dynamic arrangements, it was all sounding pretty good before even getting to hitting play!
Opening with Starships, Holodecks and Chicken Soup we’re immediately thrust into an upbeat melee of hammering guitar lines, pounding bass rhythms and a solid drum line, the mix forming into something which isn’t heavily intricate or over the top in form, but simply a damned good combination of the elements they’ve got in the band. Altering the timing throughout the track, there’s an element of complexity built into the progression on offer, but it’s subtle and doesn’t go over the top meaning we’re not distracted, and simply allowed to settle back to listen to their offerings. This Is Herman Nelson continues this idea, once again building into the track and showing us that sometimes, instrumental rock can do just as well as carefully crafted lyrical content. Adopting a sludgy sound akin to the likes of Black Sabbath through the guitars, the down tuned notes of this track come across the speakers with a new found depth and heaviness, the sort of sound which is going to smack you in the face then have you thank them for the honour of them doing it. This was one of my personal favourite tracks from the record here, there’s just something about the way the track sounds which keeps it exciting and interesting from start to finish – definitely one you want to check out.
Store High In Transit/Commuting With The Infinite (err….I don’t know either!) comes up next and presents us with the more out there sound of Monobrow, a side of them which is revealed occasionally and when it is, works to elevate their mix to a new level. Once again harking back towards more classic metal in its sound, the guitar work is the show stealer here, backed up by the solid drumming and sense of sludgy darkness. Another high point for sure, this is a track which showcases the band and shows you what to expect from their sound. Grommet returns us to the more expected sound of the band, returning us to a bluesy and rock orientated sound based around the guitar and bass combo which flows through the track. Listening to this track I found myself closing my eyes and allowing the music to wash over me, evoking images of the band starting a set and getting ready to destroy a venue – it’s got that live feel to it that so many bands lose in the recording process. Dark and sludgy guitars, pounding drum lines and a powerful bass rhythm – it’s got it all from start to finish.
Mordrake’s Revenge comes up next and returns us to the fast paced rocky approach, the guitars working to set the tone of the track and replacing any need for vocals in the mix. This ability to use music to get their message across is something which Monobrow do with aplomb, showing us how to do it with their tracks and allowing us along for the ride with each snippet we hear. I have to say that listening to this track I found myself feeling more and more inadequate about my guitar playing, there’s something about the way the guitar combines with the bass and forms this deep, groovy sound which you can’t help but move along to. City Of Angles comes up to close the selection for us, continuing the sludgy approach of the band, but with a real groove orientated sense of sludginess built into it, and a real thought that this is a band that is going to have to be seen to be believed. Another live track for sure, this final moment on the selection leaves no doubt that Monobrow have been working hard to refine their sound, crafting their tracks and building a selection of them here that is going to set these guys apart from the instrumental scene, and stand them as a real force to be reckoned with.
I liked Monobrow when we checked them out the first time, and it’s good to see that they’ve stuck by their guns to continue crafting their sound which makes them so damned appealing. The new album presents us with a renewed sense of energy, and a sound which sets these guys apart as one to make sure you check out if you get a chance. I know I want to hear more, and know for sure I need to see these guys live – so get on it and show them some support!
To find out more about Monobrow, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls.
Opening with Starships, Holodecks and Chicken Soup we’re immediately thrust into an upbeat melee of hammering guitar lines, pounding bass rhythms and a solid drum line, the mix forming into something which isn’t heavily intricate or over the top in form, but simply a damned good combination of the elements they’ve got in the band. Altering the timing throughout the track, there’s an element of complexity built into the progression on offer, but it’s subtle and doesn’t go over the top meaning we’re not distracted, and simply allowed to settle back to listen to their offerings. This Is Herman Nelson continues this idea, once again building into the track and showing us that sometimes, instrumental rock can do just as well as carefully crafted lyrical content. Adopting a sludgy sound akin to the likes of Black Sabbath through the guitars, the down tuned notes of this track come across the speakers with a new found depth and heaviness, the sort of sound which is going to smack you in the face then have you thank them for the honour of them doing it. This was one of my personal favourite tracks from the record here, there’s just something about the way the track sounds which keeps it exciting and interesting from start to finish – definitely one you want to check out.
Store High In Transit/Commuting With The Infinite (err….I don’t know either!) comes up next and presents us with the more out there sound of Monobrow, a side of them which is revealed occasionally and when it is, works to elevate their mix to a new level. Once again harking back towards more classic metal in its sound, the guitar work is the show stealer here, backed up by the solid drumming and sense of sludgy darkness. Another high point for sure, this is a track which showcases the band and shows you what to expect from their sound. Grommet returns us to the more expected sound of the band, returning us to a bluesy and rock orientated sound based around the guitar and bass combo which flows through the track. Listening to this track I found myself closing my eyes and allowing the music to wash over me, evoking images of the band starting a set and getting ready to destroy a venue – it’s got that live feel to it that so many bands lose in the recording process. Dark and sludgy guitars, pounding drum lines and a powerful bass rhythm – it’s got it all from start to finish.
Mordrake’s Revenge comes up next and returns us to the fast paced rocky approach, the guitars working to set the tone of the track and replacing any need for vocals in the mix. This ability to use music to get their message across is something which Monobrow do with aplomb, showing us how to do it with their tracks and allowing us along for the ride with each snippet we hear. I have to say that listening to this track I found myself feeling more and more inadequate about my guitar playing, there’s something about the way the guitar combines with the bass and forms this deep, groovy sound which you can’t help but move along to. City Of Angles comes up to close the selection for us, continuing the sludgy approach of the band, but with a real groove orientated sense of sludginess built into it, and a real thought that this is a band that is going to have to be seen to be believed. Another live track for sure, this final moment on the selection leaves no doubt that Monobrow have been working hard to refine their sound, crafting their tracks and building a selection of them here that is going to set these guys apart from the instrumental scene, and stand them as a real force to be reckoned with.
I liked Monobrow when we checked them out the first time, and it’s good to see that they’ve stuck by their guns to continue crafting their sound which makes them so damned appealing. The new album presents us with a renewed sense of energy, and a sound which sets these guys apart as one to make sure you check out if you get a chance. I know I want to hear more, and know for sure I need to see these guys live – so get on it and show them some support!
To find out more about Monobrow, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls.
Monobrow
Sam from Ottawa based Monobrow recently dropped us a line about their music and to let us know about their 2nd album, due out in December to coincide with the end of the world (awesome…). Formed in 2009, the guys have worked hard over the years to develop their sound, craft their tracks and develop their riff based hard rock with psychedelic flourishes. As such, I figured I’d better check out what was on offer, just to prepare myself for the music which is going to accompany our inevitable demise in December 2012!
Opening with Naught Witch there’s an immediate transportation to the world of distortion and rock, the aggressive guitar greeting you and throwing you into a world where all that matters is what you’re hearing. The pounding intro the track leads us into a fast paced melee of hammering drums, pounding bass rhythms and a guitar line which is going to get that air guitar out and get you playing along. Despite the all out aggressive approach there’s a real sense of melody running through the track, all forming together to create something which is surely going to leave live venues as nothing but dust. Throwing in some lead lines just to make sure you’re listening and paying attention, this is a seriously developed track, and without realising it for most of the track, is entirely instrumental!
From The Brown Sun continues the soaring music approach, this time adding in a sense of psychadelia through the wah tinged guitar lines and funky bass rhythms. Moving back towards the more aggressive approach at times, this is another track which is going to be a real crowd pleaser when it’s performed live, it’s got everything you could possibly want from a track. Ministry Queen continues to raise the bar from the album, this time throwing down into an almost Southern rock style riff, all the time making sure every element of the band is coming through to be heard clearly. It’s only when Trouble Apostle In The Chamber comes into being that a different style appears to begin to come through, this time harking far more towards their psychedelic edge and showing that these guys can seriously play. Harking towards the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Hendrix at times, this is a track which sounds like it’s a classic already, yet here it is as a new track from a band still doing the circuit – awesome.
Buried In The Backyard is a serious highpoint on the album, and one of the tracks which stands out as my personal favourite. Fast paced and solid throughout, this is another track which is going to et you reaching for the air guitar and hammering away on your own. It’s almost a shock then when the heavy riffs fade into the softer openings of Low Water, a softened guitar line this time opening the track and paving the way into another of the more psychedelic moments on the album. Don’t be deceived by the soft opening here though as soon enough we’re thrust back into a hammering melee of everything rock, this time seeming to adopt an even faster pace as if to show that they’re not done yet. Man Without A Watch, Man comes up next, once again showing that this is music built for the rock scene, and music which is going to be impossible to resist! Southern Rock tinged once again, the sludgy riff which fuels this track is going to keep you wanting more, keep you coming back to listen to it again and once again make you wish you could get out to see these guys. Another serious highpoint on the album, if you want an idea of what these guys sound like then this is going to be a good starting point, definitely one to check out.
Closing the album with Swan Of The Superplanet there’s one last chance to hear just what these guys are capable of. It’s testament to their ability that at no point did I miss vocals, and this final example is another of those moments. Heavy, melodic, out there and generally written in a ridiculously professional manner, this is the sort of track which you would expect from a far more accomplished band. Closing on a high, I can’t wait to see how they’re going to follow this album, what ever they do appears to work!
I’m never sure about instrumental bands as quite often, I feel that there’s an element missing from their tracks, that’s not happened here. The guys in Monobrow seem to have managed to craft tracks that don’t need vocals, don’t need words as the musicianship going on in the band is enough to keep you listening, enough to keep you engaged and enough to craft tracks which are quite simply massive! If this is their self titled debut, I can’t wait to see what comes next from these guys as simply, it promises to be epic!
To find out more about Monobrow, check out their Facebook page HERE, and their Bandcamp page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Naught Witch there’s an immediate transportation to the world of distortion and rock, the aggressive guitar greeting you and throwing you into a world where all that matters is what you’re hearing. The pounding intro the track leads us into a fast paced melee of hammering drums, pounding bass rhythms and a guitar line which is going to get that air guitar out and get you playing along. Despite the all out aggressive approach there’s a real sense of melody running through the track, all forming together to create something which is surely going to leave live venues as nothing but dust. Throwing in some lead lines just to make sure you’re listening and paying attention, this is a seriously developed track, and without realising it for most of the track, is entirely instrumental!
From The Brown Sun continues the soaring music approach, this time adding in a sense of psychadelia through the wah tinged guitar lines and funky bass rhythms. Moving back towards the more aggressive approach at times, this is another track which is going to be a real crowd pleaser when it’s performed live, it’s got everything you could possibly want from a track. Ministry Queen continues to raise the bar from the album, this time throwing down into an almost Southern rock style riff, all the time making sure every element of the band is coming through to be heard clearly. It’s only when Trouble Apostle In The Chamber comes into being that a different style appears to begin to come through, this time harking far more towards their psychedelic edge and showing that these guys can seriously play. Harking towards the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Hendrix at times, this is a track which sounds like it’s a classic already, yet here it is as a new track from a band still doing the circuit – awesome.
Buried In The Backyard is a serious highpoint on the album, and one of the tracks which stands out as my personal favourite. Fast paced and solid throughout, this is another track which is going to et you reaching for the air guitar and hammering away on your own. It’s almost a shock then when the heavy riffs fade into the softer openings of Low Water, a softened guitar line this time opening the track and paving the way into another of the more psychedelic moments on the album. Don’t be deceived by the soft opening here though as soon enough we’re thrust back into a hammering melee of everything rock, this time seeming to adopt an even faster pace as if to show that they’re not done yet. Man Without A Watch, Man comes up next, once again showing that this is music built for the rock scene, and music which is going to be impossible to resist! Southern Rock tinged once again, the sludgy riff which fuels this track is going to keep you wanting more, keep you coming back to listen to it again and once again make you wish you could get out to see these guys. Another serious highpoint on the album, if you want an idea of what these guys sound like then this is going to be a good starting point, definitely one to check out.
Closing the album with Swan Of The Superplanet there’s one last chance to hear just what these guys are capable of. It’s testament to their ability that at no point did I miss vocals, and this final example is another of those moments. Heavy, melodic, out there and generally written in a ridiculously professional manner, this is the sort of track which you would expect from a far more accomplished band. Closing on a high, I can’t wait to see how they’re going to follow this album, what ever they do appears to work!
I’m never sure about instrumental bands as quite often, I feel that there’s an element missing from their tracks, that’s not happened here. The guys in Monobrow seem to have managed to craft tracks that don’t need vocals, don’t need words as the musicianship going on in the band is enough to keep you listening, enough to keep you engaged and enough to craft tracks which are quite simply massive! If this is their self titled debut, I can’t wait to see what comes next from these guys as simply, it promises to be epic!
To find out more about Monobrow, check out their Facebook page HERE, and their Bandcamp page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls