Behold! The Monolith - Behold! The Monolith EP Review by Mirza Gazic (StoneRock.com) Self Released Release date: 2009
Soon these guys will put out a full length debut album that has been produced by none other than Billy Anderson, a man that warrants no introduction to anybody frequenting this site. Before that happens you have time to acquaint yourselves with Behold! The Monolith and their first, independently released three- track EP. If the three songs on offer are any indication of what may come, then the impending release of the album is promising something quite stellar.
The reason this Los Angeles band is more appealing than the average sludge band is because they don’t settle for the lumbering riffs and the monotonous, slow grind but also add some sun-stroked 70s jams. The middle section of closer “Volcanus Eruptum” brings the stoner influence to the fore. It’s not all grime and misery even though they do conjure up an unsettling vibe during the majority of the brief playing time that is reminiscent of Grief and Cavity, mostly thanks to the anguished screams of Kevin McDade. They also show that they can rock out with a fast number- after the moody intro and the slow beginning the listener is treated to a head banging High on Fire-like tempo to the finish line.
It remains to be seen whether they can keep the quality going for more than three songs, but they’re on to something good here.
