The Uncarved Block
The Magazine dedicated to Unsigned
and Independent-Label bands
Black Monsoon
"Pantomime" Album Review
Released: 27/11/20 - Review Date: 26/03/21
Black Monsoon, a three-piece from The Netherlands, embrace a range of Alt. Rock/90s grunge influences ranging from Sonic Youth to PJ Harvey, with catchy riffs, altered tunings and melancholic vocals they have taken the Dutch underground scene by storm. They boast a twin guitar and vocal assault from Jacky Kwast and Teun Guichelaar, with the crashing accompaniment of Marjolijn Dokter on drums.
In fact, the first track "Sinner" perfectly demonstrates that Sonic Youth feel, with an edgy/gravelly guitar riff overlaid by a tonal lead-lick. The combination of male and female harmonies during the chorus give a vulnerable energy.
"Pantomime" is the title track and moves towards a more catchy, repetitive riff with Nirvana-esque grunge solos, in a simple but highly effective song: no-nonsense vocals, uplifting chorus and fast- paced, it is over in just over 2 minutes!.
"Jabberwocky" was the first single from this album and continues the style of twisted guitar riffs that mirror each other, giving that weirdly delightful feeling of being lost in the belly some kind of a metallic monster (The Jaberwock?), but being gently warmed and comforted by the generous chorus. This is a well-worked song, with clever interplay between the low-end guitar and the squeals of the other, in retaliation.
"Hide And Seek" plays tricks with your ears as it builds up the layers of guitars over the incessant drums - the dynamics between the tones at play here expand into a big anthemic chorus of power-chords and chanting, until before you know it the song is over, leading straight into the more laid-back, cool beat of "Easy War." Slow, well placed bass notes plod through the start of the track, with drawn out vocals imbuing delicate emotion, as the second guitar slowly adds extra riffs that turn into a wailing solo. A more melancholic and thoughtful song, it eventually opens out into a louder, raucous ending.
"Nothing" has a more off-hand, low-fi drawl, adding swagger and attitude to the middle of the album, with long-held vocals notes and a reigned back guitar sound. Time to catch your breath, before we are hit with the high-energy of "Fire." A powerful song, action-packed with incessant guitars, catchy riffs, and more "Sonic Youth" style twists and turns throughout. A live version was chosen as our "Video Of The Week "on 14/02/21.
There is a clever use of the guitar in "Awake" sounding like an alarm ringing through the night, with second guitar and drums driving the energy of the early morning riser, tanked up on espresso and adrenaline.
"I Am Not Waiting" introduces a more pop style into the fray, only betrayed by the familiar distortion underlying the guitars. The PJ Harvey influence is seen in Jacky's tongue-in-cheek vocal delivery that is cynical yet sweet. And then there is this edgy, twisted solo thrown in near the end, impatiently heralding a return to the mighty chorus.
"Losing" is next up: another single from the album. Here we have a super catchy bass-tone guitar riff that is given plenty of space during the verse, before the twin guitar assault fires into the chorus - squealing riffs, feedback, pitch-shift effects, and more dynamic action; this is a big song!
The tribal drumming of "In The Shade" gives a very organic feel to sections of this song - wild and feral, with howling guitar effects that have an almost synth feel to them, reminiscent of the experimental style of "Boss Hog." There's a dark twist to this song as we can almost feel the pang of dehydration take it's toll, followed by crazed hallucinations, playing tricks on our fragile persona. Is that an oasis on the horizon, or are we about to be drenched by the coming monsoon? A Black Monsoon, no less!
This album is a real treat for fans of the Alt. Rock genre, as the trio show they have a deep understanding of the dislocated and disjointed nature of this style, that can both open "painful wounds from oppressive feelings of insecurity and self-reflection" and yet be a comfort in knowing you aren't alone in these feelings of alienation.
Andy
