Album Review: The Monarch – A Moment to Lose Your Breath (Art is War Records/Godsize Records)

Formed in 2003, The Monarch is the brainchild of drummer Dave Kinkade (Soulfly/Borknagar/Malevolent Creation). They released their debut album ‘All the Worlds Pain’ in 2021, and in 2023 Dave Kinkade recruited former Soulfly bandmates Marc Rizzo and Tony Campos on guitar and bass, former Malevolent Creation guitarist Marco Martell and Mutiny Within singer Chris Clancy.

On May 3rd, 2024, The Monarch returns with a brand-new album called ‘A Moment to Lose Your Breath’. Out via Art is War Records/Godsize Records.

That’s one hell of a line-up, and to the surprise of no-one, The Monarch return with a mighty big bang. Building up anticipation effectively with the intro of For My Own Being. Some ambience, a devious voiceover, haunting piano notes, and a brief cacophony of guitars and drums.

The thrills and chills have begun, and with Man Made Chaos, they only increase as The Monarch unleash an anthemic style of heavy thrash that is twisted by progressive melody. This is the talent of this band, each member and how they work together, well and truly unleashed. It’s also, for those unfamiliar with their sound, the perfect showcase of how ‘big’ they can sound.

It’s not just their big anthemic melodic metal ways that is notable though, but how heavy they can sound too. Imperial By My Hand gives us both, sounding immensely meaty, but having a chorus that soars. Something that When Death Finds You has too, but here the heavier rhythms are a little groovier.

There’s definitely a sense that The Monarch have set out to deliver something that would stand the test of time. While the overall makeup of the record is familiar, how they utilise the tools at their disposal to sound fresh is what ends up working so effectively. It’s why soft piano melody can be so atmospherically impactful on intermission-style tracks like Winds of the World’s Last Breath and Nostalgia Everlost. Both are thoroughly enjoyable and bookend the animated head-banger that is Dark Heart Phenomena.

A bevy of riffs, screaming soloing, smashing drumbeats, and vocals that growl and soar in equal measure, the likability of this new album continues with no abatement on Soul Collector and Walking Amongst Giants. The latter is an absolute beast of a track too, coming in at over eight minutes, and showcasing an immense amount of progressive metal depth. It’s almost funny that even with this, The Monarch still manage to make it such an anthemic listen.

That’s what they do though, and it’s quite something to follow that with another heavy epic that passes the eight-minute mark too. Although considering what comes with the finale, the title track might be seen as more like easy listening. Except it is lavishly constructed and emphatically delivered. The Monarch, once again, showcasing a different kind of intensity.

It’s fair to say, that following that, many may be feeling a bit worn out, but The Monarch get this and offer up something unexpected, but memorable, with the finale of Hymn to the Darkest Sky – Endtimes. A dark and deeply atmospheric finish that seems to end around the four-minute mark. Hold on though, there’s around eight more minutes to go, and it’s pretty damn experimental.

An unforgettable experience, be it the simpler side of their anthemic ways, or the elaborate progressive side.

The Monarch – A Moment to Lose Your Breath Track Listing:

1. For My Own Being
2. Man Made Chaos
3. Imperial By My Hand
4. When Death Finds You
5. Winds of the World’s Last Breath
6. Dark Heart Phenomena
7. Nostalgia Everlost
8. Soul Collector
9. Walking Amongst Giants
10. A Moment to Lose Your Breath
11. Hymn to the Darkest Sky – Endtimes

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