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Necromonkey - Necroplex CD (album) cover

NECROPLEX

Necromonkey

 

Eclectic Prog

3.94 | 31 ratings

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Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer
4 stars 4.5 stars. This one sort of snuck up on me after many listens which wasn't too surprising considering it's quite experimental with plenty of electronics and effects. NECROMONKEY are the duo of Mattias Olsson(ANGLAGARD) and David Lundberg(GOSTA BERLINGS SAGA). They have a dozen guests helping out with a variety of instruments, vocals and sounds including another GOSTA BERLINGS SAGA member Einer Baldersson who plays a variety of guitars along with electric sitar and mandolin. It's tough describing the music with so many effects and electronics but i'll try to tell you what I think I hear.

"Pea" features piano and mellotron sounds that build and we get some electronics late. "Asshole Vote" has these pulsating mellotron sounds as electronics, drums and bass are added. A change 1 1/2 minutes in as we get what sounds like organ. This moves me for some reason. Drums and trumpets join in then we get a fuller sound before 3 minutes. So good. It sounds like sirens before strummed guitar and a female voice arrives and they go on for some time. Drums and electronics end it. "Element" is a bright and feel-good piece. Electronics to the fore then it settles briefly before kicking back in. Some effects late. "Tuba Melt" does have tuba in it of course along with a bass trumpet as they feed off one another and sound like they are both cut up. "Small Rome" features piano melodies while the mellotron late is gorgeous. "Every Dead Indian" is such a great track and for some reason(mellotron) it reminds me MORTE MACABRE. Some cello early on slices away with keys then samples and drums are added as it builds some. It kicks into a higher gear around 3 minutes. This is catchy with plenty of mellotron. A change 4 1/2 minutes in as it calms right down with a beat only to start then it builds. Picked guitar 5 1/2 minutes in then bass clarinet followed by mellotron. Beautiful stuff.

"Empty Traps And Nightfall" opens with rain and thunder along with bass. E-bow I believe is what I hear next in this very laid back tune. "Spoken" is a humorous spoken word piece with experimental sounds in the background. "The Utopian And The Teaspoon" sounds amazing and we get electric sitar and deep pulsating sounds. Lots of effects as well including voices. The drumming is prominant then it starts to slow down before 3 minutes before becoming quite experimental as the pulsating rhythm stops. "Winds Over Iceland" features baritone guitar and other sounds. I like it. "Knock Knock Hornets Nest" is another highlight that reminds me somewhat of latter day RADIOHEAD. Check out the electric 12 string early on as drums and more help out. Lots of electronics before 2 minutes as a Lap Steel helps out. A calm after 4 minutes. "Notebook" is a short mournful piece that drones. "Last Entry" reminds me of MORTE MACABRE as well with those female vocal melodies and atmosphere. Picked mandolin helps out and it turns fuller after 1 1/2 minutes. It settles back after 3 minutes as it continues to wind down to the end.

Man this is nothing like any of the bands these two guys have been a part of which is actually pretty cool. This is innovative and at times challenging and an album i'll get a lot out of for years to come.

Mellotron Storm | 4/5 |

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