Release Date: March 04th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Altered State - Tracklisting
1.get to the point 04:55
2.cotton white overdrive 04:38
3.audiotrip featuring duke garwood 05:07
4.lazy eye 03:14
5.deep in the mud 04:42
6.make ends meet 04:09
7.late wait 03:58
8.lazy eye (instrumental) 03:14
Review
Altered State is the debut album from Greek Alternative/Grunge/Stoner Rockers A Monkey Shine. The album is quite an enjoyable experience with the band delving into the more melodic style of Stoner Rock with moments of heavy Grungy atmospherics. A Monkey Shine lean quite heavily into the Alt Rock/Metal way of life with how the vocals are delivered and emotionally based lyrics throughout the album. However, the sound can also be quite DOOM & GLOOM based.
The opening two songs of Get To The Point and Cotton White Overdrive sees A Monkey Shine playing more theatrical styles of music with moments of Pallbearer based DOOM appearing mostly on Cotton White Overdrive and Prog Rock vocal choices make the album quite a contemporary sounding Stoner based release. There’s a wicked style of heavy grooves that shows A Monkey Shine have their own way of playing modern day Stoner Rock with Alternative Rock melodies.
The band’s use of piano can be quite jarring and over the top at first but by third song Audiodrip, I began to admire the different and vivid style of melodies that A Monkey Shine played on the record with a small A Perfect Circle and LIVE (The Band) influence starting to appear. Some folks within the Stoner Rock underground scene may have a more difficult time embracing the band’s haunting sounds and emotionally charged lyrics. However, the pay-off is well deserved with A Monkey Shine playing some intense grooves throughout the rest of the album.
There’s a hidden Post-Rock and Cosmic energy that appears on the later stages with tracks such as Lazy Eye, Deep In The Mud and Make Ends Meet which was a welcome surprise. This allows the album to be way more Progressive that you initially expect but still within the confinements of the Alternative Stoner Rock they superbly deliver.
Overall, Altered State is a collection of superbly played and written tracks with a hidden emotional depth that allows A Monkey Shine to deliver the goods and showcase another great Stoner Rock band from the famed Greek Stoner Rock scene.
Words by Steve Howe
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