AMUK

"Amuk" is the debut full-length studio album by Portugese technical/progressive metal act Monogono. The album was released through Mother Should Know Records in March 2007. Monogono formed in 2002 in Setúbal and released the "Genesis" demo in 2005, before being signed for the release of "Amok".

Stylistically the material on "Amuk" is a brutal, technical, and bordering chaotic sounding metal style. The album features elements of mathcore, technical death metal, and progressive sludge (and the odd jazz/fusion influenced section here and there). All delivered in the most intense and caustic fashion you can imagine. Think of early Mastodon but much more crazy, brutal, and technical.

Don´t be fooled by the 2:00 minutes long instrumental piano intro, because right from the first second of "Remolding Steel", your ears are exposed to busy technical drumming, complex fast-paced guitars riffs, dissonance, creative song structures loaded with tempo changes, and a raw shouting/screaming vocalist, who sounds a little like a really pissed Max Cavalera (and the occassional melancholic monotone clean vocals). This is definitely not for the faint at heart, although the band do incorporate more atmospheric parts on the album too. Those work as short breathers...and believe me you´ll need them.

Monogono are incredibly well playing and especially drummer Gonçalo Santos deserves a mention for this performance on the album. Playing complex music like this and managing to make it groove and swing is no easy feat. The powerful, organic sounding production values also help enhance the listening experience, as it´s also detailed enough for you to be able to hear what all instruments are playing at all times.

"Amuk" is not exactly an album which invites you in, but rather the type of release which threatens to rip you face off if you get too close. Listeners interested in near chaotic sounding, extremely technical, and very brutal and aggressive metal, should find this album a treat. To those with a low threshold for stress...enter at your own risk. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)