'Giants' in the making
‘Giants’ is the latest release from Cambridge based foursome The Mono Effect. With their rock driven melodies, four part harmonies and powerful and dynamic songs, this looks set to be a hit.
This release pleasantly impressed me from the moment it started; the sound for one thing is diverse. The opener ‘Suffragette’ gives a sense of what the band is all about and the majority of songs follow this path. It gives a smooth yet edgy rock base with a rough Simple Plan style. This fashion reflects an indie pop approach, specifically on ‘Sick ‘n’ Weird’, ‘Walls Cave In’ and the remarkable chorus of ‘Blessed By Angels’.
Other songs such as ‘Devil Mouth’ and ‘Breathe’ are more intense and have a hectic atmosphere. It’s the criss-cross of harmonies and remarkable guitar playing that makes them stand out; the sing-along chorus helps on the latter. ‘The Bullet Catcher #13’ hits a harder note with guitars becoming deeper, to a point where a darker and intensified sound is created. ‘Beast’ is rather mysterious with trembling vocals and vibrating music. This track would make the perfect single with imagery of prospecting videos endlessly breaking through.
‘Kill The Mood’ literally does for the ambiance of the album. It takes a rather twisted turn and a more alternative sound to the rock tune. It’s more unnerving and seems intimidating in respect of other tunes. Juxtaposed next to this is ‘Lull’ which shows as well as hitting the darker side of rock, The Mono Effect is capable of reaching heart tingling ballads that explode as they conclude. The fact it’s so different to other tracks makes it shine. Likewise, the oddest song on the release ‘My Friend’ has verses that are pure indie while the chorus is hard hitting rock.
This band expresses a lot of confidence in what they are playing and the track of that name definitely has the title down. ‘Giants’ is an album you could listen to repeatedly and enjoy a different track each time you heard it due to the albums differing qualities.