Sights & Sounds — Monolith

Monolith

Smallman/Warner

Keith Carman (CHARTattack)

05/26/2009 1:11pm

Sights & Sounds are in dire need of greater self-confidence. It's like they're struggling between carving out their own niche and exploiting the names of the other, more readily recognized bands to which their members contribute.

When it comes down to it, using frontman Andrew Neufeld's other band, Comeback Kid, to pitch the stunning, grandiose, almost operatic emotive punk rock featured on Monolith is an insult to their ability and the vast differences between hardcore and this intensely melodic craftsmanship.

Monolith's songs are divided into movements and arrangements as opposed to the standard verse/chorus/verse structure that defines most popular music. Moreover, because of his own musical pedigree, former Strapping Young Lad frontman and producer (Misery Signals, Bleeding Through) Devin Townsend embraces Monolith's need for drastic dynamics, oscillating between thick and paper-thin production levels to create an unending, engaging journey through 13 tracks of inventive, passionate prog-punk.

Get it from