Monolithe - Interlude Second review
| Band: | Monolithe |
| Album: | Interlude Second |
| Style: | Doom metal |
| Release date: | January 02, 2012 |
| A review by: | !J.O.O.E.! |
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 [url= http://monolithe.bandcamp.com/album/interlude-second-ep]theirs[/url].
Written by !J.O.O.E.! | 14.03.2012
Rating:
8.9
8.9
|
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 3 / 3
Comments: 82
Visited by: 198 users
| Boxcar Willy yr a kook Posts: 9157  |
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| pisymbol Posts: 193  |
The review is spot-on and well written. I just finished my first listen and this is drone, plain and simple. I enjoyed it but with all drone albums, it usually takes me 2-3 listens before I even think of a rating.
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| Dogsbreakfast Posts: 33  |
Doom, drone, or dribble it is a good album for a good price on Bandcamp and this review lead me to it. I listen to lots and lots of stuff outside the world of metal but I have always found it curious that people find labels and classifications so important in this genre. It seems at times that fans need their music stereotyped. Maybe thats just me because I find those groupings so confusing. 
---- dogsbreakfast@hotmail.com
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| InnerSelf proofread free Posts: 2682  |
Written by Dogsbreakfast on 19.03.2012 at 02:19  Words of wisdom !
---- He who is not bold enough to be stared at from across the abyss is not bold enough to stare into it himself.
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374  |
^Big fucking lol at the discussion a couple of posts above me. I personally find it a bit pathetic when people use the grow-up-card when no one has been offensive towards the other. But oh well, at least the discussion has ended. Monilithe rules, now back on track.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| -DC-002- Mastercommander Posts: 1703  |
This is fucking gr8! downloaded it for $5.
---- Coldgrits
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| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702  |
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted Written by Merchant of Doom on 25.03.2012 at 16:56 Drone metal possibly with a generous helping of death industrial going by that. It's hard to tell exactly from a live peformance. This and [url=MdpwiZ-my0M]This[/url] are examples of death industrial by the way. That video has a sound similar to a death industrial band, but as I say it's not easy to tell. I see guitars so probably is more drone doom. Which by the way is not what I'm saying Monolithe are (as I said in my review), they are not drone doom which is characterised by sustained chords rather than the clusters of sound used on Interlude Second, so your example of drone and Monolithe do no coincide. Drone in other forms does not necessarily use such conventions of drone doom, though it is common in ambient drone and such. This is doom: This is not doom: This is not apocalyptic   I'm calling a spade a spade, and in my experience of drone and doom the recent Monolithe is not doom. Nor is it "apocalyptic progressive doom metal(ish)." I'm using my experience of listening to music to best characterise what I hear. The drums give off a distinct industrial vibe and the music itself revolves around droning soundscapes rather than the riff structure typical to doom, be it traditional, funeral or drone (doom). Regardless of your issues with "doom stereotypes" doom is based on well defined and longstanding set of rules and aside from the doomy-ish vocals I can detect very little, if anything, which lends itself to a doom aesthetic. To me calling this doom is an egregious oversimplification which seems to ignore virtually everything which is happening in the record, instead focusing on superficial elements like vocals and band history. Here's a quote from Mark Richardson which, while perhaps not aimed at this style exactly, gives a good impression of the feel and approach on this record: Quote:
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306  |
Written by Merchant of Doom on 25.03.2012 at 16:56 Congratulations on figuring that out.
---- "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 |
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| Merchant of Doom Posts: 702 |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 25.03.2012 at 17:01 at least I can figure things out... 
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| R'Vannith ghedengi Elite Posts: 3099  |
Wow.. this is something else. Well worded review, it certainly seems alien to me. But that might be because of my unfamiliarity with drone.
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| IronAngel Posts: 4880  |
I'm reading back on MoD's comments since I saw him talk about them on doom-metal.com so I'm a bit late to this discussion. This album is a pretty good example of the ambigious post-metal category, IMO. Other than atmospheric sludge, it's been used to refer to stuff like Godflesh and even Jesu. There's an industrial vibe, maybe some droning on the guitars (though I wouldn't put it as a primary genre), and I don't really know what else. Mechanized, spacey post-metal. Vocals aside, I'd describe it as "Godflesh meets Blut Aus Nord meets Tool on Mars."
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
Quote: No Vindsval is featured on this 52 minute track which is Monolith III. And, yes, Debemur Morti will release it on November 16
---- 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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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 26.10.2012 at 00:29 According to Debemur Mortii he isn't on Monolithe III  It was originally meant to be released on Appease Me though.
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 26.10.2012 at 00:40 That's what I am saying "No Vindsval" so not "No, Vindsval"
---- 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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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 26.10.2012 at 00:42 That's a really awkward way of writing it. That could lead to someone saying "some Vindsval is featured on it." It looked like you were saying "No, Vindsval is not featured on it" just with poor grammar
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 26.10.2012 at 00:45 I know it's a bit awkward, due to the possible misunderstanding. Especially on a forum.
---- 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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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 26.10.2012 at 00:46 Oh well, we both meant the same thing so no harm done
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 26.10.2012 at 00:47 You guys are going soft... I expected murder.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
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