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
Comments: 82
Visited by: 198 users
| Boxcar Willy yr a kook Posts: 9157  |
The lazy reviewer awakes... I'll pass on this, though... not really my style.
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| Boxcar Willy yr a kook Posts: 9157 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 14.03.2012 at 18:02 Hurtful.
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| Boxcar Willy yr a kook Posts: 9157 |
 you're supposed to use this, btw.
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306  |
This is actually a really awesome EP. It was hard for me to tag it genre-wise to be honest, but I can settle with drone. Industrial drone/doom or something. Doesn't matter though, Monolithe deliver once again. Very thorough review by the way.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| InnerSelf proofread free Posts: 2686  |
Joe .... I thought I would have to wait till the beginning of April to post my review but now it seems pointless to post it since your review is almost the same as mine (aside from the awesome English of course  ) the basic ideas are similar it's almost frightening
---- 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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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted Written by InnerSelf on 14.03.2012 at 18:12 Oh crap, didn't mean to piss on your fire, I just had a sudden urge to review something a couple of hours ago. You should still post yours though =3
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
So they cahnged to playing frone now?
---- 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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| InnerSelf proofread free Posts: 2686 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 14.03.2012 at 18:24 hahaha don't worry about it, I was just messing around and thought I might try and review this. Awesome review btw 
---- 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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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 14.03.2012 at 18:31 hahahaha I meant drone of course but we can settle for frone if their drone still has funeral elements to it  And so a new subgenre has been created, as of this instant Monolithe's music shall be labeled 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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| InnerSelf proofread free Posts: 2686 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 14.03.2012 at 18:33  typos can be revolutionary
---- 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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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 14.03.2012 at 18:33 Frone has an awesome and ridiculous ring to it. This band shall now be frone metal!
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 14.03.2012 at 18:37 Absolutely. What K7 posessing my fingers can do to metal hahahaha
---- 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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| Fredd Account deleted |
Fredd
Account deleted Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 14.03.2012 at 18:40 You DO need a professional exorcist. At your service.
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| Edmund Fogg Posts: 1752  |
Really good review of an amzing EP. Still the best I've heard so far this year.
---- 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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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374  |
Written by [user id=4365] on 14.03.2012 at 18:37 Hahahahahaha I'm totaly calling them frone from now on. Wonderful review! Sums up the album perfectly. I specially liked the fact that you mentioned the lack of emotions in this album. This is one of the great examples to how "empty" music can still make your imagination fly unlike what some hippie people say about music that has to evok emotions and shit... Monolithe are just too alian for that kind of shit, just like 2001. Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 14.03.2012 at 18:33 I totally thought you were serious when you said frone, which makes this accident way funnier. One of the few cases where K7-ism has actually helped.
---- 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 |
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 14.03.2012 at 20:08 !J.O.O.E.! : Professional Firepisser 
---- 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 Written by X-Ray Rod on 14.03.2012 at 20:09 I might start trawling through posts and see what reviews I can Ninja from people, all on the last day of the 3 month limit 
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| InnerSelf proofread free Posts: 2686 |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 14.03.2012 at 20:09 Joe, here's your new title Written by [user id=4365] on 14.03.2012 at 20:16 hahahahaha talk about abusing authority 
---- 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 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 14.03.2012 at 20:16 Hhahahahah oh man what an asshole, you should totally do that.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306 |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 14.03.2012 at 20:40 He already jacked* my Dodecahedron review. * possibly, anyway
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374 |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 14.03.2012 at 20:57 Highly doubt it, he didnt like it. Gave it a 6.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306 |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 14.03.2012 at 20:59 And was in the midst of rev-- you know what? Get fucking Facebook and you'll know these things. >>
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374 |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 14.03.2012 at 21:01 Pffff 
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Milena gloom cookie Staff Posts: 4603  |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 14.03.2012 at 20:05 I think Ryan will have your head for that
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374 |
Written by Milena on 14.03.2012 at 22:21 It proves my point though... Not every music has to bring emotions. There ARE bands that make music with the porpuse of leaving you without any... Which is a task harder to do imo and when it's done right... It's done in such a brilliant way. The bands that suck are the ones that try to evoke emotiones but fail at it.
---- 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 Contributor Posts: 5266  |
I saw funeral doom for a "tag" on another website, true?
---- rekt
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