Birth of the Monolith are a Russian post-metal band and this is their debut EP.
Birth of the Monolith’s post-metal ingredient list contains generous dollops of doom and sludge, alongside a decent helping of black metal. Think a mix of Cult of Luna, Celeste, Rosetta, and Downfall of Gaia.
The songs are heavy and dark, full of rolling riffs and walls of guitars. Resplendent melodies and streaks of light are merged with grim distorted riffs. Whether separate or apart, they’re always emotively played and can easily ensnare the listener in their embrace.
The music has a crushing quality to it that’s part physical presence and part emotive force. A bleak-yet-vibrant energy seems to roll off the music in waves, making the songs extremely moreish and instantly repeatable. This is the type of EP that you could easily listen to over and over and over again.
Harsh screams sit on the blackened end of the sludge spectrum, and the singer’s capable voice has a hooked, barbed edge to it; like the music, it just makes you want more.
And here’s the thing – there’s less than twenty minutes of material on this release, and it’s not enough. This is a band that have used the time available to them to produce an extremely enjoyable EP. Once it draws you in, however, you’ll be clamouring for more. Let us hope they don’t make us wait too long. Bring on a full-length.