Review MONOLORD “Neverending”

Is the story of Monolord never-ending? We don’t know. What we do know, though, is that the Swedish stoner and doom band have been creating their own musical path since 2013. The first chapter was an album called “Empress Rising” and there have been four additional longplayers released, with “Neverending” being the title of their latest studio effort.

Although their newest album is a bit more varied, it’s songs like “Inside a Collider”, with its slow, pulverising doom vibe, that refer to Monolord’s roots. With its hypnotic repetition and melancholic mood, the song is a riff monolith on an album that opens with “Iodine”. This massive, stoner-rock-infused opener creates the framework for an album that puts the mighty riff into focus.

“You Bastard” is a song with serious lyrics about suicide. There are those who commit suicide and those who are left behind. It is a song about understanding life and all its challenges, without any finger pointing. The lyrical approach also takes a slight turn as the band adds personal experiences of grief and anxiety to their repertoire. “You Bastard” has a pulsating beat and roaring riffs, giving it heavy momentum on the album.

“Crystal Bridge” is another thunderous song on the album, built on a ten-ton riff. This captivating song features nice little breaks and brings you the 70s-infused “The Masque”.

The album then takes an unexpected twist with “It’s Neverending”. The wrecking ball-like riff power remains, while the death metal growls provided by Jörgen Sandström give the closer a different edge. Combined with great leads and a throbbing bass, the song is a thrilling finale to an exciting album.

Monolord deliver another sonic behemoth that showcases their roots in doom metal and stoner rock while pushing the boundaries with songs like “The Masque” . “Neverending” is a mesmerising album with captivating intensity.