Album Review: Monolithic Elephant – Monolithic Elephant

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This Italian trio delivers what can only be described as mammoth walls of mountainous fuzz. Picture the mighty Kyuss rejoined after a 15 year hiatus! Somehow Monolithic Elephant have been moulded to the very roots of stoner/desert rock, a venture that has so often been tried and time and time again never succeeded. Monolithic Elephant are perfect example of how good music can sound when three musicians work in unison and collaborate as a whole.

This album is a harrowing cosmic trip through-and-through, bound together with gigantic and jammed out musical prowess! OK, you can surely hear Kyuss (and many other bands) and think “hmmm, it’s been done,” but I assure you this time it’s a big NO! Monolithic Elephant have put together six songs of well crafted gems carefully picked and somehow conceived in the form of a story book or concept album! Three of the songs are exceeding the 10-minute mark, and that is where the Italians provide their best. Tracks like “The Unbaptized and the Virtous Pagans Pt. I & II” and “Spleen Mountain’s Giants” will make you weak at the knees, like a first love or an addiction, these tracks consume you and take you right into your subconsciousness.

Rest assured Monolithic Elephant don’t just pump out mammoth tunes; the equally luminous track titled “Drawing Minds” is epic in its own way. A true illustration of just how good this band works as a unit. Laced with ambient passage, eerie sound effects, various alter instrumental experiments and eventually more fuzz, “Drawing Minds” really reminds me of an a mantra, but tends to deliver a lot of pounds per square second, both guitar driven and vocally!

This album is produced and sounds like it costs an absolute fortune, undeniably ready for a label release. Italy is definitely in the forefront of producing some of the best acts to date. Monolithic Elephant will impress the new listener and give hope to the geriatrics that are in search of that classic sounding desert rock.

Monolithic Elephant will be a band who will emerge at the top of the food chain within the stoner rock community, although only six songs under their belt you might say that’s a “big call!” But get your hands on this album and judge for yourselves! I look forward with optimism that the band will find a home soon and get a deal that will bring more of their greatness. This band is a must have and as they mature through touring and more recording sessions  they will be hard to top! Highly recommended!

Tracklist:

1. Moloch
2. The Unbaptized and the Virtuous Pagans Pt.I
3. The Unbaptized and the Virtuous Pagans Pt.II
4. Drawing Minds
5. Carnival of Souls
6. Spleen Mountain’s Giants

Line-up:

* Andrea Ravasi – guitar, vocals
* Alessandro Riva – bass, synth, vocals
* Santo Carone – drums, vocals

Links:

Bandcamp

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