Monobrow - A Decorative Piece of Time (Album Review)

Release Date: August 06th 2021. Record Label: Trill Or Be Trilled Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

A Decorative Piece of Time - Tracklisting

1.Epoch (t0) 02:43

2.Argument (w) 08:15

3.Ascension (Ω) 10:17

4.Drag (N1) 07:27

5.Inclination (i) 05:19

6.Eccentricity (e) 09:57

Members

Brian Ahopelto - Drums and Synth

Sam Beydoun - Bass and Synth

Paul Slater - Guitars

Review

A Decorative Piece Of Time is the new album from Canadian Heavy Stoner Rockers Monobrow with this being their first release in 4 years. This time round Monobrow are more wise, world-weary and slightly bitter at the world. The album is a darker affair compared to other Monobrow releases with the band adding glitched out noises and trippy noises to their standard Psych Stoner Rock sound.

The record runs for 45 minutes across 6 songs with Monobrow opening the album up with a Psychedelic/Ambient Post-Stoner song Epoch (t0) that lasts around 3 minutes. It’s a lo-fi and lush sounding affair that opens the album up to hopeful possibilities and that mood lasts for a short time before the stunning second song appears.

Second track Argument (w) is an aggressive affair with heavier elements of Prog Rock, Stoner Metal and even Post-Metal. For the first few moments the song is building upto a level of aggressiveness that we haven’t felt from the band before then it switches back to a more melodic style of music. A moment later then it’s back to the earlier Prog Stoner Rock/Metal sound. The sound is quite jagged, choppy and schizophrenic in places. I dig this “new-found” style of Stoner Rock/Metal from the band. As they bring different musical elements that keeps you on your toes.

The band are working with Mike Bond (Wolf Lane Studios) again which they have done for the last few albums. Now they’ve brought Topon Das on mixed and mastering duties. Yes, folks that Topn Das of FUCK THE FACTS fame. A grindcore legend and mainstay of the Canadian Extreme Metal scene. It could be having Topon on board that Monobrow have an harsher edge to their music and this shows throughout the album. If you’re a fan of earlier Monobrow albums then this is still the same band but just more creative and playing a more experimental style of Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal.

The other tracks Ascension (Q), Drag (N1) and Eccentricity (e) are the strongest parts of the album offering a fine mix of old-fashioned Monobrow riffs and their newer experimental sound.  A Decorative Piece of Time perhaps works best when Monobrow focus on their Psychedelic Freakouts and Spaced Out Vibes hidden beneath the Progressive elements of the album. 

A Decorative Piece of Time is either wonderfully strange or strangely wonderful depending which part of the album impresses you the most. There is a lot to get through on this album so I would recommend repeated listens to fully understand it all.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Monobrow and Against PR for the promo. 

A Decorative Piece of Time is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Trill or Be Trilled Records.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp 

Monobrow - The Nacarat (Album Review)

Release date: April 06th 2017. Label: Trill or be Trilled Records. Format: DD/Vinyl

The Nacarat – Tracklisting

1.The First Vague Rumblings of Impending Revolution 05:37
2.Capes and Monocles 09:03
3.We Can Make it Look Like an Accident 04:54
4.Twin Sheiks 09:46
5.The Decline of the West and Other Small Tragedies 10:01

Members:

Brian Ahopelto, Paul Slater, Sam Beydoun.

Review

Monobrow return with another round of Instrumental Doom/Stoner Metal as their new album - The Nacarat - sees the band create their heaviest album to date. It's quite experimental in parts compared to previous albums and the band play a heavier doomier sound. There are still moments of their familiar Psych Stoner Rock riffs.

Opening Track -The First Vague Rumblings of Impending Revolution - opens with a cheering crowd before the music finally appears. Monobrow then decide to play some superb instrumental doom/stoner metal with moments of progressive rock appearing here and there. This song runs for nine minutes and it feels like it's been separated into different parts. As the song changes tone and direction at different times of the song. It can be slightly depressing and gloomy near the middle.

The second track - Capes and Monocles - is an even longer track at fourteen minutes in length. It has a similar structure as the opening track but it's good to hear Monobrow return to their earlier Stoner Rock sounds. Though the band do add moments of trippy cosmic rock. The song is played at a fast pace but the band do slow things down to add more elements of progressive rock.

This is perhaps the standout track on the album. As it has flashes of real genius at times especially when the band decide to move into jam-based rock territory. Shades Of Earthless can be heard at times and even Karma To Burn but this is Monobrow's album to show you all what they can really do. The album has it's fair share of bleak moments but the heavy riffs are never too far behind.

The album is a concept album of sorts. You can tell this by the intriguing song titles and how the album is put together. Long-time fans of the band may have a hard time getting used to their new style of music at first. My advice, give it time as this is an album that needs multiple listens to understand the full scope of it all.

The remaining three tracks follow the same exciting path as the two opening tracks though the band show a fine eye for detail on the two final songs which both run for about fifteen mins each. As the album builds up to an exciting finish with moments that feel inspired by Mastodon - Crack The Skye era. 

The Nacarat is another winning album from Monobrow but it won't appeal to everyone.

If you're in the mood for a complex instrumental album then this is the album for you. Great stuff.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp