Monolithe - Interlude Second review
| Band: | Monolithe |
| Album: | Interlude Second |
| Style: | Doom metal |
| Release date: | January 2012 |
01. Harmony Of Null Matter - Section 1
02. Harmony Of Null Matter - Section 2
What a fascinating entity Monolithe have become. This recently emerged EP has perhaps brought them closer to the mystery that their name and artwork has always hinted at, that of the glorious existential imaginings of 2001: A Space Odyssey, than their (admittedly excellent) funeral doom incarnations of Monolithe I and Monolithe II. In fact it's safe to say they've exited the realms of doom altogether and transferred dimensions to a plateau of relatively structure-free mechanised, if not industrialised, landscaping.
Unquestionably this is a drone (though not drone metal as such) and percussion driven record. At every corner you'll experience some form of clicking-cum-pounding array of drum patterning, permanently shrouded in tightly wrapped and timed bass, with a looser, snaking yet ever-present synth circling it like rock and ice particles orbiting a planet. The guitars are there... somewhere, but it's difficult to evaluate their true relevance until the shorter, second track begins where they define themselves in clear, discordant, yet melodic strokes. The occasional breaking gruff vocal exclamations scattered throughout its 35 minute discourse neither add or take much away from the music other than perhaps giving a familiar glimpse of normality. This is not music that is pointed toward any trite emotional exposition, the melancholy of doom or the coldness of black metal, it isn't going to require hours of mental preparation or a round trip of Merzbow and Throbbing Gristle records to acclimate oneself, it's surprisingly neutral and palatable. Just ultimately different. Ultimately alien.
A 25 + 10 minute duo of obscure convention breaking sonic exploration might seem too much of an undertaking to sit through, but... it really isn't. As I said, this isn't aimed at distorting the mind through pain and force, rather by a mellow form of attrition and hypnosis, slowly working its way under the skin. By its end it'll feel like a pleasant drone. The back of your neck will resonate with the bass, your grey matter will have adapted to the timezone of the drums effortlessly and your memory will have recognised the paths of the synths. You'll be happy, if spatially bemused.
It's no secret that Blut Aus Nord's masterbrain, Vindsval, has or at least had incorporated Monolithe into his record label Appease Me with promises of featuring himself as a vocal talent on the long awaited Monolithe III (now supposedly being released under Debemur Mortii) so one has to ponder at the influential forces he exerted on this. Even so, this is far from his nihilistic and apocalyptic undertakings, and while often atonal, it is rarely unpleasant and difficult but always thoroughly excellent. But don't take my word for it, take theirs.
Rating:
8.9
8.9
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Rating: 8.9 |
Those of you familiar with 2001: A Space Odyssey know what the Monolith stands for, an unearthly messenger that saved the man-ape from extinction and taught him how to hunt and survive in a barren desiccated land. Its appearance was the fictional point in history when we, humans, truly exited from the most primeval and undeveloped version of us. Monolithe assume the role of this beacon of enlightenment, taking us in a journey far beyond in space towards cosmic realms no man ever dreamed of reaching ? Read more ›› |
Comments page 2 / 3
Comments: 82
Visited by: 198 users
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Posts: 40071 From: The Netherlands  |
Written by tea[m]ster on 14.03.2012 at 22:33 their previous albums were, but apparently this one isn't. But even for funeral doom they were very light weight making Shape Of Despair sound heavy and raw.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Posts: 5245 From: USA  |
Written by Guest on 14.03.2012 at 22:34 Whew, I was gonna say. Your review gave no indication of that. I will check this out, I am always willing to explore other musical avenues!
---- rekt
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Posts: 18274 From: Sweden  |
Written by tea[m]ster on 14.03.2012 at 22:38 I take it you don't dig Funeral Doom too much? 
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Posts: 5245 From: USA |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 14.03.2012 at 22:40 LOL, did I imply that in a subtle way? I didn't want to be a horses ass about it. That stuff just isn't my brand of vodka!
---- rekt
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Posts: 18274 From: Sweden |
Written by tea[m]ster on 14.03.2012 at 22:44 I hate vodka. 
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Posts: 5245 From: USA |
Written by Guest on 14.03.2012 at 22:40 Aside from stating the obvious, that tag I saw just didn't make sense. Oh and it's on a few other websites too...do they actually LISTEN to the music or do they use the force?
---- rekt
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Posts: 18274 From: Sweden |
Written by tea[m]ster on 14.03.2012 at 22:46 It's the classic "the band played X before but now they play Y but I don't accept changes (even if I like it) so I'll keep calling them X" behaviour. Pretty stupid indeed.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Edmund Fogg Posts: 1752 From: Canada  |
Written by Guest on 14.03.2012 at 20:08 Nah my review is still a work in progress for a french webzines. Actually I'm working my way to Staff reviewer over there. Don't worry guys I'll still be here.
---- You cannot sedate all the things you hate - MM The Observer is the source of reality - Bloom God damn it!! What did Diddy didn't do? - Satan
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| Boxcar Willy yr a kook Posts: 8978 From: Canada  |
Frone has a nice ring to it indeed, Lets start a trend.
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Posts: 21306 From: Canada  |
Written by Guest on 15.03.2012 at 12:56 Lyrics from Section 2?
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Posts: 18274 From: Sweden |
Written by Guest on 15.03.2012 at 12:56 Heh, when I read this part my mind went straight to Acid Bath's "Cheap Vodka". Let's start a riot! Let's start a war! Everybody that you know is a whore! Fuck it. Fuck it. Fuck it. I don't care. If there's gonna be blood, we'll be there!
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702 From: UK  |
I don't hear any drone (or frone) in this. I would call it apocalyptic progressive doom metal(ish)... completely different from the previous two albums.
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Posts: 40071 From: The Netherlands |
Written by Merchant of Doom on 16.03.2012 at 14:34 aha a new made up term just like frone
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702 From: UK |
Written by Guest on 16.03.2012 at 14:36 well, Sylvain Bégot still calls it a doom project and it's definitely doom inspired (at least the first part). I would still use the word doom, because it has its roots in doom (the harsh vocals pretty much underline the concept) and - as far as I'm concerned - has a doomy underlying atmosphere. It's not just the music or the riffs. Doom music doesn't have to have riffs. It's quite tiring hearing these stereotypes about doom metal on this site. And I still think it's progressive and not drone - and I didn't say you called it drone metal. It's still not drone. And if 2001: Space Odyssey (which you quoted) is not apocalyptic, then tell me what it is... all in all a very misguided review, if you want my frank opinion.
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!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted Written by Merchant of Doom on 16.03.2012 at 15:07 He can call it a pop-thrash project if he wants, it doesn't make it so. Roots and previous records are irrelevant when it's the music that speaks for itself. The vocals could belong to a number of genres, a pointless example, it doesn't lend itself in any way to a "doom" category or feel. It's funny, you're talking about stereotypes about genre classifications yet it's you that's forcing the issue of what this "is" - it's clear to me you have such an attachment to everything "doom" that you're seeing doom wherever and whenever you want to, even when it doesn't exist. This isn't progressing anything, most certainly not doom. If you want to see doom in everything and transcend it to a magical la-la dimension where doom can exist without some kind of tangible riff or concept from which it is made and known then that's your business but please don't pollute other people's logic with such drivel And I would absolutely not call 2001 an apocalyptic film. What an utterly ridiculous notion... apocalytpic = end of humanity. Please point out where that theme fits into 2001, bearing in mind the film is more concerned with human evolution, again, the polar opposite of apocalyptic. It's been a while since I met someone with such a tenuous grip on reality, it's you that's totally misguided ;]
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| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702 From: UK |
Written by Guest on 16.03.2012 at 15:15 I always love it when reviewers can't take criticism and resort to insulting other people's opinions. No wonder your average audience is 15.
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| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702 From: UK |
Of course it is. Because I don't like your tone. We can discuss it when you grow up.
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Posts: 40071 From: The Netherlands |
Seems someone is hurt... and that someone isn''t the reviewer
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Posts: 21306 From: Canada |
 What a joke. This is probably the least misguided review I've read on this site - including reviews I myself have written. The only doom bits I heard were the vocals, which reminded me of Esoteric, which on their own do not make this in any other way associated with doom at all.It's weird to see you get defensive over being called out for trying to assert yourself as a doom elitist, MoD.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702 From: UK |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 16.03.2012 at 16:10 I have feelings too, you know?  Incident closed...
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