Monotheist is a death/progressive metal band from Orlando, Florida (USA) and they released their album “Unforsaken” in November last year, after signing with Shigionoth Records. Lets check this one out.
Monotheist started in 2004 as a project and evolved into a band. In 2007 the released their album “Unforsaken”, which is now re-released through their new label.
The album consists of 8 songs with a total playing time of over 62 minutes. Not bad! The album kicks off with “Beheading Azazel” and its sounds really brutal. Fast death metal with nice guitars riffs and fast double bass. Accompanied with some nice death grunts, which can be understood well, it’s a well balanced song. “Through Vangrant eyes” takes up more then 11 minutes of your time. Its continues is a very fast paste. Really quick drums. These guys play very well. It has some nice twists which makes it very nice to listen to. “Shroud of the Malefactor” starts calm, until all brutal power is released. And again a song of over 11 minutes! Very nice guitar solo’s altered with death grunts. This song has some very nice lingering parts, altered with really fast parts. “Morningstar” is more of a melodic/progressive song, with some nice calmer moments. “Blood for Blood” starts of firm as a more progressive song and develops in a more trashy song with some nice grunts, altered by guitar solos. And suddenly they go off in really fast death, excellent done! ”Babel” starts with some noise and rolls over into “Enraptured” which starts with heavy guitars, followed by an more quieter part which makes you wonder where this is going. And Yes, suddenly they kick off again with fast drums, and a more of a blackish voice. Last song of the album is “Unforsaken”, which start slow, but suddenly again they break lose again. This song is a whopping 15 minutes. And yes this is fast again and melodic. Vocals are brutal and altered with some nice female chants which are just excellent. And the end? What a blast!
To conclude “Unforsaken”: This is a very nice album from a band with a lot of potential. They can play very well and are capable of composing a nice album which is very enjoyable to listen to. The mix of brutal death metal and clearly progressive influences makes me want more of this!
Rating 9/10
Band members:
Shiv – Vocals
Prophet – Guitar/Vocals
Cooper Bates – Drums/Vocals
Christian Martinez – Guitar
Tracklist:
1 – Beheading Azazel
2 – Through Vagrant Eyes
3 – Shround of the Malefactor
4 – Morningstar
5 – Blood for Blood
6 – Babel (interlude)
7 – Enraptured
8 – Unforsaken
Band members:
Shiv – Vocals
Prophet – Guitar
Cooper Bates – Drums/Vocals
Christian Martinez – Guitar
Discography:
Unforsaken [2007]
Unforsaken, re-issue [2012]
Record Label: Shigionoth Records, Nov. 2012
Buy the album here:
Holland: First Paradox
Norway: Nordic Mission
Weblinks: Facebook / Reverbnation / Twitter
Interview With Monotheist [Feb. 2013]