Albums That Will F*ck Your Face Off in 2013: The Monolith Deathcult, Tetragrammaton

The Monolith Deathcult
Tetragrammaton (Season of Mist)
Release Date – Early 2013

Dutch wizards The Monolith Deathcult are one of few bands in the extreme metal scene who manage to be hilariously tongue-in-cheek while simultaneously producing crushing music that’s entirely without pretention. 2013’s Tetragrammaton promises to continue the band’s work in the same vein.

The Monolith Deathcult’s music is a diverse mix of progressive death metal, industrial, and epic theatrical elements. The band’s definition of “epic” is a tight balance between audacity, presentation, and ferocious songwriting. Their music dangles on the edge of a cliff, threatening to go over the top, but it never quite does so, staying compelling without becoming cheesy or excessive. It’s a headlong, furious ride, the insane roller coaster that feels out of control but which is tightly controlled the whole time. Samples and theatrical chanting always appear at just the right time, emphatic but not overused. The symphonic elements are the same, serving to accentuate their leaden riffs rather than muddle the overall impression.

This control combined with the band’s penchant for experimentation leads to a gritty, give-no-fucks atmosphere that’s evident in the numerous grooves and industrial sequences that litter their music. The feel is serious and symphonic for much of the time, but it also doesn’t hesitate to border on club trance and groove metal. One track appearing on the upcoming album actually has been released for two years, and it’s a scorcher (with a title to rival the likes of Nile). Check out “Aslimu!!!-All Slain Those Who Brought Down Our Highly Respected Symbols To The Lower Status Of The Barren Earth.”

For those of you uninitiated with the band’s work thus far, I implore you to use “Deus Ex Machina” as a starting point. If you haven’t checked out their 2008 masterpiece Trivmvirate, you’ve been missing out.