Aortha is a metal project based in Norway, and this is their debut album.
To best explain who/what Aortha is, let’s turn to the promo blurb – “AORTHA is new metal project/band founded by Predrag Glogovac . He was guitar player from known metal band in ex.Yugoslavia called MONOLIT which was active from 1988-1992 until war broke in country and band ceased to exist. Reunion in 2006-2008 and one fine album released on One Records from Belgrade «Arcana Balkanica» in 2008. Predrag has played in Norway with some known metal musicians for years. In 2020 with a lot of unreleased music and songs he started to gather old friends & musicians for project and album you have in hand is born.”
The musicians recruited have an impressive pedigree between them. Also from the promo blurb –
- Kyle Thomas – vocals (EXHORDER)
- Diego Valdez – vocals (DREAM CHILD)
- Denis Belanger Snake – vocals (VOIVOD)
- Alessia Scolletti – vocals (TEMPERANCE)
- Netta Laurenne – vocals (SMACKBOUND)
- Christian Älvestam – vocals (SCAR SYMMETRY)
- Predrag Glogovac – lead & rhythm guitar (MONOLIT)
- Igor Paspalj – lead guitar
- Jacob Umansky – bass (INTERVALS)
- Hannes Grossmann – drums (TRIPTYKON, ALKALOID)
So there we are. But what does it sound like, and is it any good?
Put simply, Monolit is an album of quality heavy metal. It’s spliced with power, thrash, and progressive metal elements too, lending Monolit a good canvas onto which it paints it’s expressive vistas.
And yes, it is very good indeed.
The singer of Dream Child is the voice that ties all of the songs together, with the others appearing as the various tracks require. Some appear on just one track, and others multiple. The well-written songs are enriched by the different singers, but I like that there is one who provides a running thread, helping to keep everything on track. Backed up by an able crew of musicians that clearly know what they’re doing, the artist behind Aortha has put together a strong and enjoyable package with Monolit.
The songs benefit from a melodic aggressive that’s infectious. The album has a crunchy, professional production that lets the riffs shine and the solos sparkle, while the drums pound out with the precision and skill that you’d expect from the drummer performing them.
Monolit is just a good album full of good songs. It offers a catchy, anthemic journey, with a lot of character. It channels many classic metal greats throughout its 47-minute running time, and is a veritable feast of true heavy metal meatiness for fans of the style.
Yep, this is definitely one to keep returning to.
Highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 