...

Monads moves slowly, perhaps even slower than their music. With a stride which traverses years at a time, this Belgian funeral doom band spent the past six years working on their debut, a follow-up to 2011's underground sleeper hit Intellectus Iudicat Veritatem. Time is an element all too familiar to such a lugubrious genre, known for its slow gait and brow-furrowed discipline, and the amount Monads put into the four tracks found within the imposing IVIIV gives the album a presence much larger than its fifty minutes' length.

Simply calling IVIIV funeral doom metal does it injustice, however. Though, yes, it is primarily slow, Monads prefers variety, breaking the dour plod with punctuated bursts of blasting. Just enough to "keep things interesting," but without fully killing the atmospheres presented. After all, Monads takes extra care in crafting them - these thick, sepulchral sounds which border suicidal and devotional. A familiar grief, Monads's melodic structure and harmonies feel nostalgic, almost like something heard before, but not quite placed. It's like deja vu, but for something no one has really experienced.

Furthering themselves from other funeral doom artists, Monads opts for clarity over obscurity. Atmosphere most certainly does play a large role in such a regimented style, but the general rule of thumb within funeral doom is stark minimalism and thick washes of sound, all elements blended together in a thick, despondent paste. IVIIV, however, revels in separation, all instruments standing side by side instead of a huddled mass of noise. This was the first great success of Mournful Congregation, but few seem to follow their previously tread path in this regard. This clarity, the separation of sound, is absolutely crushing. There is so much more room for bass, now, and it is room-rattling. Melodies cut like knives. The howling voice is in your ear. Monads is immediate.

IVIIV will be out on Aesthetic Death within the next few weeks (the label is at the mercy of Holiday mail turnaround times), but you can stream the entire record below. I've been told the band is looking for someone to handle a vinyl pressing, as well.

...

...

Follow Monads on Facebook and Bandcamp.

...