OATH

Time to continue this 2024 train with a release from NOT a prog band this time, but rather another post-rock project! But unlike with the Abriction album, this one is a lot more straight-laced, though under the surface it is quite the enigmatic showcase of emotions.

MONO is a Japanese third wave post-rock group, focusing a bit more on a style reminiscent of the second wave of post-rock, similar in sound to bands like Sigur Rós, Mogwai, and especially Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Seriously, they LOVE adding chamber into their range of post-rock elements.

Their 20+ years of making good music doesn't show any signs of stopping, especially with this release from this year.

I don't normally do this, but I wanna start off with the negatives. Not because I think this album is bad, but rather I think it may be a better lead in to my positives.

The biggest thing that I think MONO does suffer from with most of their records is that they fall into a bit of the "generic" post-rock music that a lot of third and even some second wave bands follow. Explosions in the Sky and This Will Destroy You also fall into this same category, and honestly I think it's a fair enough judgment. Oath definitely continues the more mainstream sound that was carried throughout the 2000s and beyond, and I am definitely in the camp of more different sounding stuff in my post-rock fixtures. I suppose if you REALLY don't like that kind of style in your music then I suggest looking elsewhere. However, if you don't mind it, well you are in for a treat.

What sets MONO apart from the mainstream of post-rock comes in the form of their differing moods on each of their albums, and as for Oath that emotion is very clearly love, or at least a form of it. There aren't too many MONO records that hold a more optimistic tune, and are filled with a sense of companionship either. In fact I think the last time we got a record with that feeling was with Hymn to the Immortal Wind. However, Oath feels genuinely happy in a lot of good ways. Perhaps bittersweet is a better word since the record still has a cool--somber mood attached. While I do love the more sad themes that post-rock often attributes, I cannot deny I sometimes get a little tired of those moods and wish some bands do something a bit more joyous, so Oath was definitely a breath of fresh air in that regard.

Really, this record feels like sitting with a loved one on a nice cold rainy day, just living in the moment. It's a soothing kind of love, and one that I enjoy quite heavily.

As such with most MONO records, the instrumentals are still just as good as ever. I don't personally think they are as good as something like For My Parents and One Step More and You Die, especially since I feel like Dahm Majuri Cipolla is a bit weaker on drums compared to Yasunori Takada, but he still works very well in providing a great backing for some excellent instrumental rock music! Perhaps with time he'll warm up to me.

A bit of a quicker review, but nevertheless Oath is another great output from a long running band. Heck, maybe one of their best since For My Parents (though I have not heard the records in between this one and that so I may be a little wrong on that). I highly recommend checking this one out. While it may not be a spectacularly groundbreaking post-rock output, it is still a worthwhile listen I think.

Best tracks: Run On, Hear the Wind Sing, Moonlight Drawing

Worst track: Then Us