| CD REVIEW Monsterworks |
 |
|
Band : Monsterworks Goody, goody, a new Monsterworks album! Over the last couple of years (my introduction to the band came with 2006's The Precautionary Principle, alsoa Casket Music/ Copro Records release – review posted 25/03/2006, mentioning this for your fact-finding needs on the band), those have been items I've looked out for with anticipation...and enjoyed to the fullest! The band's incredible ability to mix soaring and mesmerising melodies in their own brand of Progressive Heavy (say Real Heavy) Metal, and put layers of fantastic vocals (high soaring, Blackened searing, Deathened growling, occasional normal to boot) is indeed more than enough to catch the attention of anyone long enough into a wider array of musical styles! No surprise then, that the band's albums have all landed up in my year-lists. The band's two previous albums, 2006's download-only Special Operations and 2009's Singularity (review posted 24/05/2009, mentioned for your updating needs on the band's history), brought a somewhat narrative space tale, and with those albums lead singer/ guitarist Jon got intrigued with the idea of concept albums. To understand the concept of The God Album, one had better read the introductory explanation in the booklet, and since that is something which you, dear reader, probably don't have yet, here it is: “When you consider that there are many choices of religion today and so many more which have disappeared into history, you should conclude that the chances of stumbling upon the “correct” choice are slim; while bearing in mind that most doctrines are unforgiving of competing beliefs. Also consider that no one has all the answers because, quite literally, it is not possible for a single person to possess the combined knowledge af the Age. Therefore, we are left with reason and logic to determine our own answers. If we follow this path, on balance, there is a good possibility that religious tradition can and will be abandoned.” Ach...wishful thinking, guys! As long as there's weaker people in this world living in poverty as opposed to people who live in absolute and disgusting wealth, as long as the poor keep lacking in education and as long as the filthy rich don't stop their greedy money-mongering, there will always be a need for the weaker to revert to a religion...something which is supported and kept alive by the rich, because it helps 'em in keeping the others in check! Anyway, that's not something I have to tell the guys from Monsterworks, because they know...just thought I'd mention it here though! As for the album itself...in these days of religious fanatics whom occasionally twist “the holy word” into justifications for abominable terrorist actions, it would be a risk for one's own self to make an album like this, but luckily Jon has succeeded in not pointing the finger towards any specific religion. Two thumbs up for “Origin”, relating to primeval man's need to “live forever”, and from there creating the Immortal One. It is to be hoped that those music fans with a religious problem, and who are attracted by the band's fantastic music in the first place, will get some enlightenment from listening to/ reading the lyrics, and join the more intelligent among us onto a path of reason, logic, and respect for the fellow being (the latter a conditio sine qua non, I would say), independent of gender, race or culture! As for the music on the album, I've described it above, and it remains the same exhuberant stuff here, so anyone having come in contact with the band's music and having liked/ loved it (to like is to love, in this case) can go to the record store and be sure he's going to love his new purchase without having to listen to it first. Those new to the band having liked the description, might treat themselves to a positive surprise by buying the album without even listening to any of the material first. But I know that there's more doubters out there needing to listen to at least sóme of the material (some even need to listen/ like a complete album before buying it!?), so for those: surf to (www.) myspace.com/monsterworks to find 2 of the more heavy songs off the new album posted alongside 8 tracks off older album. Positive news: A new album has already been recorded and ready to go (sans artwork) soon after enough response to The God Album has come in. Equally important, in late November 2010 Jon went into the studio to remix the first Monsterworks album Dormant, originally recorded in 1998, when the band was still in New Zealand. I'm looking forward with anticipation to the possible release of that remixed/ remastered epos, that's for sure. As further exhilerating news, it can be announced that demo versions of a new batch of songs have already been finished as studio leads to an album to be released in 2012. Hum...I dó hope all of that gets a physical release! Meanwhile, let's add The God Album to out “Best Albums Of 2011”-lists. I loved the two previous narrative album just a little more, hence I've taken off one point of the perfect rating (which otherwize still makes The God Album one of the absolute top in the gotta-have list of CDs to be released this year)! 99/100 Tony. |