Amuk - Monogono

Monogono sound interesting even before you hear their music. They come from Portugal, apparently play "chaotic jazzy rock" and their influences include Pantera, Metallica, Mike Patton and Pink Floyd. And some accompanying publicity has them sounding like "King Crimson on steroids".

This is certainly interesting, so gets instant points just for that fact (which is perhaps a little generous- but I'm so used to being ...
...CD on). The first track, "The Untold Story Part 1" is a scale-riding classical piano piece that could provide a good accompaniment to any atmospheric scene from a classic horror film. Not only was it not what I was expecting, it also served to make me forget what I was expecting in the first place.

The second track, "Remolding Steel" couldn't be more different- fast-paced, furious death metal with ragged, hoarse ... more

Monogono sound interesting even before you hear their music. They come from Portugal, apparently play "chaotic jazzy rock" and their influences include Pantera, Metallica, Mike Patton and Pink Floyd. And some accompanying publicity has them sounding like "King Crimson on steroids".

This is certainly interesting, so gets instant points just for that fact (which is perhaps a little generous- but I'm so used to being fed exactly what I expect when I put a new CD on). The first track, "The Untold Story Part 1" is a scale-riding classical piano piece that could provide a good accompaniment to any atmospheric scene from a classic horror film. Not only was it not what I was expecting, it also served to make me forget what I was expecting in the first place.

The second track, "Remolding Steel" couldn't be more different- fast-paced, furious death metal with ragged, hoarse vocals in the same vein as early Entombed or Morbid Angel. It isn't bad exactly- not bad at all in fact- but my confusion is deepening. The publicity of which I'm aware brands Monogono as Portuguese jazzy rock with hip hop influenced lyrics and jazz keyboards.

And yet so far I've heard a classical intro and some gritty death metal, making me wonder what is possibly to come next. Maybe some reggae? (although I hope not)

"Remolding Steel" does have more of a prog-rock feel to it as the song goes on, with interesting guitar work, and ends with an echoed shout, adding to the feeling that this band are full of surprises.

Track 3, "Atros do Nada" is a chaos of tangled guitar chords, more scream / shout vocals interspersed with quieter guitar interludes and clean vocals- in other words, it sounds like Mr Bungle or Faith No More. Tellingly, the band name Mike Patton (the main man in both those bands) as a main influence. Then again they also name Pink Floyd as an influence, and I certainly haven't heard any of them in the mix…

The fourth track, "Predictable Crime" has an odd time signature (and probably some odd chords as well) and more of the death-metal vocals. "Predictable Song" then really- compared to that which has come before it, at least.

It's all tightly-played, well-organised and technically proficient, in the tradition of many death / thrash bands going back fifteen years or more. The stop-start nature of the music and the fact that it spirals out into all sorts of directions is disconcerting on first listen but one can become used to it.

Track 5, "Agnosa" sounds like, well, something- I don't know what- being played backwards, which makes for a vaguely interesting listen- before we're back to the prog-metal with Track 6, "True Nature Revealed" and the seventh track, "The Untold Story Part 2" which is unbelievably fast-paced at times.

Track 8, "The Endless Trip Part 1" almost *does* sound jazzy, with random guitar, and equally random rhythm. In fact, this one probably could be played and might go down well in a jazz club. It could make an excellent theme for a Sixties psychedelic film. Track 9, "The Endless Trip Part 2" features doomy guitars, a slower pace, and atmospheric acoustic guitar over the top, making it the best track so far- a shame it's only a minute and a half long.

Then we're back to the prog/death/thrash (take your pick) with Track 10, "Inner Epiphany", some electric guitar noodling on Track 11 "Amusia", and more fast and heavy action on Track 12, "God of War". Intriguingly there is also an unlisted thirteenth track, which starts off as what sounds like morse code (maybe it is) - that is to say, blips and beeps- before moving to drums and feedback, which then fade into more morse code.

Having listened to the album a couple of times, I am beginning to see why some describe it as jazzy- although it doesn't feature double bass and sax, the metre and time of the music- in fact everything about its arrangement- is almost free-form in its entirety, full of bizarre chords and key changes.

Do I like it or not? I'm still not sure, or rather I like some of it and the rest of it I can take or leave. The band should be applauded for trying something different- they certainly stand out from the crowd a little, although the more "metal" songs sound a little samey after a while. It's certainly worth a few listens if you want to push the boundaries of what you normally listen to, and for that reason I'd recommend it- just.
 

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