Genre : Progressive metalcore
Released : November 26th, 2021
Label : Self-released
FFO : The Hirsch Effekt, Between the Buried and Me,
Heaven Shall Burn, Letters From the Colony
Today marks the release date of yet another debut album, this time coming from the German band Monosphere which I became aware of thanks to following music journalist and fellow Instagram reviewer @rodneyreviews who happens to be the drummer for this band.
"The Puppeteer" first presents itself as a modern metalcore album early on with its title track that ticks every box on the list of what makes an efficient contemporary metalcore song.
However, as the album unfolds, so does the panoply of various influences and different metal sub-genres that the band explores throughout the forty minutes of run-time that "The Puppeteer" has to offer.
From progressive elements of songwriting, to post-rock/metal atmospheres and textures to soothing piano interludes layered with electronica and even virulent bursts of unexpected black metal, Monosphere are quick to show that they have more to offer than your average modern metalcore band.
The album has a conceptual narrative that focuses on the notion of control and its loss thereof, whether of oneself or to portray a power struggle between two people, imaged by the metaphor of the puppet and, of course, the puppeteer.
The way in which the tracks on this album bring new elements picked from different sub-genres kind of mirrors that idea of a puppet being controlled into doing one thing or the other, each of its movements bringing something new musically.
And I also feel like it could echo the visuals accompanying the music, in a sense that all these tendrils or wires that make this silhouette we see on the cover art could represent different musical styles that come together to form a single cohesive and recognisable entity once the picture is completed.
The main thing that I am not particularly fond of on "The Puppeteer" however, is its pacing.
I feel like the album does a great job of introducing itself and reaching an intense crescendoing conclusion but the mid-section comes across as having too many "interlude" moments which; although they allow an agreeable introspective moment to catch one's breath, could've been shorter in order to not loose too much of the album's momentum in my opinion.
I'm also not incredibly fond of some of the production choices made, especially in the guitar and bass departments where they can feel a little cluttered at times or drowned out by too much low end and thus lack a sharper punchiness that could have brought these tracks to a whole other level I feel like.
Nonetheless, the positives definitely outscale the negatives and Monosphere make a really impressive first musical statement on "The Puppeteer" with a well fleshed-out concept that is wonderfully translated into shape-shifting tracks that keep the listener attentive and surprised throughout.
Definitely check this one out if you're looking for some adventurous metalcore that is deeply rooted in progressive heavy music.
Comments