Album Review - Mono Inc. - Welcome To Hell

Welcome To Hell is available from Amazon. To order your copy go here

             

Mono inc is a Gothic Rock band from Hamburg Germany. The band was formed in 1998 by Miky Mono (Vocals), Martin Engler (Former drummer) and Carl Fornia (Guitar) under the name Mono69. The name was later changed to Mono Inc. in 2000. Bassist Manuel Antoni joined the trio in 2003. After Mikey’s departure (around 2004) drummer Katha Mia was brought in and Martin became the bands lead vocalist. They’ve released 10 studio albums over the course of 15 years as well as various EP’s, Best Of, and Live albums. Although Mono Inc. had previously been a supporting act this would change after the band released their 2010 EP entitled Comedown. This lead to the bands increase in popularity allowing them to tour as a headlining act. The bands 2013 album Nimmermehr (Nevermore)remains as the bands most successful album thus far. 

Typically I have a certain style in which I write my reviews. However, since Mono Inc. has such an advanced discography I will be listing the bands albums by year followed by two of my favorite tracks on each record. The album I’ll be focusing on is the bands latest release, Welcome To Hell. 

2003: Head Above Water - The Last Waltz, My Sorrow 

2007: Temple Of The Torn - The Condemned, My Sick Mind TV 

2008: Pain, Love, and Poetry - This Is The Day, Bloodmoon 

2009: Voices Of Doom - Gothic Queen, Forgiven 

2011: Viva Hades - Viva Hades, Revenge 

2012: After The War - No More Fear,Forever 

2013: Nimmermehr - Euthanasia, Seligkeit 

2015: Terlingua - Never-Ending Love Song, It Never Ends 

2017: Together Till The End - Boatman - Featuring Ronan Harris Of VNV Nation, Children Of The Dark - Featuring Tilo Wolff (Lacrimosa), Joachim Witt, Chris Harms (Lord Of The Lost) 

Welcome To Hell which was released on July 27, 2018 is the album that got me into Mono Inc. I love how different each one of their albums is. They utilize each members talents in such a beautiful way. You can hear the bands chemistry in each song and it’s obvious that this is what they love to do. Martin’s voice is so distinct and when it’s matched with Katha’s angelic likeness it’s exquisite. Her ability to sing and drum at the same time is incredible. 

My favorite songs from Welcome To Hellare A Vagabond’s Life, Funeral Song, and Long Live Death. I love how well thought out each track is and how all of the songs are arranged in a way that they tell the story beautifully from start to finish. Welcome To Hellisn’t like anything they’ve done in the past, I’d say its closest companion is Together Till The End. 

I would recommend Mono Inc. to anyone who enjoys watching a band evolve over a number of albums. If you want to hear different styles of music and song writing I think you’ll really take a liking to their music. 

The bands music is available through Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify. A few of their albums as well as their official band merchandise are available on their website. 

Music video for the seventh track, A Vagabond’s Life (Featuring Eric Fish)

Welcome To Hell Track Listing:

1. The Heart Of The Raven
2. Welcome To Hell 
3. Long Live Death 
4. Risk It All 
5. Flies
6. Under A Coal Black Sun
7. A Vagabond’s Life (Featuring Eric Fish)
8. Funeral Song
9. Reign Of Rats
10. Unconditionally 
11. When The Raven Dies Tonight 

*Classic Versions are included in the Deluxe Edition 

Album Review - Lord Of The Lost - Thornstar

* Thornstar is available from Napalm Records USA. To order your copy go here

Lord Of The Lost formally known simply as Lord was originally a solo project created by Singer/Songwriter Chris Harms in 2007 in Hamburg Germany. There have been a few band member changes over the years. The current member line up consists of Chris Harms (Vocalist, Guitar), Class Grenayde (Bass) Pi Stoffers (Guitarist), Gared Dirge (Piano, Synths, Percussion), and Niklas Kahl (Drums). 

In 2010 the band released their debut album entitled Fears. Dry The Rain, one of the most beloved Lord Of The Lost Songs has become indispensable for fans worldwide. 

2011 saw the arrival of the bands Sophomore album release, Antagony. This album features fan favorites such as Sex On Legs, Prison, and Undead Or Alive. Infiltrating the metal scene once again in 2012 the band released their third album, Die Tomorrow. This album offers hits such as Blood For Blood, See You Soon (One of my personal favorites), and Credo which has become an anthem for the band. 

Four years after their debut album, Lord Of The Lost released From The Fire To The Flame. This album includes Fists Up In The Air, a fast paced song with killer guitar work and some catchy lyrics such as, “We are proud! We are Strong! Shout it out loud! WE ARE ONE!” 

In 2016, Two years after the release of their Fourth album, Empyrean was born. Empyrean is an album that is considerably different than their previous work. The band chose to add more synth, industrial type vibes to their songs. I love the songs Raining Stars, In Silence, and Doomsday Disco. They’re unreservedly brilliant and exceptionally well written. 

Some of my favorite albums Lord Of The Lost have released are their two Swan Songs albums. The term “Swan Song” is a metaphor for a last performance before death or retirement. A description which fits these albums flawlessly. Swan Songs was released in 2015 while Swan Songs II was released in 2017. Both albums feature reimagined versions of their works. Some are even exclusive to these albums and are previously unreleased. The band also offers Swan Song Symphonies which are instrumental versions of some of their songs. The band worked with an extraordinarily talented classical Orchestra to create these absolutely remarkable renditions of their work. Some of my favorites are Six Feet Underground, See You Soon, Go To Hell From Swan Songs I, and Lighthouse, The Broken Ones, and My Better Me From Swan Songs II. These songs are awe inspiring and showcase the bands talent perfectly. 

Thornstar, the bands most recent album was released on August 3, 2018 on Napalm Records. This is in my opinion the quintessential album. From the very first moments of On This Rock I Will Build My Church to the last note of Ruins (or Live, Pray, Die, repeat if you have the Deluxe Edition) it is simply exquisite. Thornstar is a concept album which tells the story of the ancient civilization of the Pangaeians. When doing research on this topic the band chose to use archives rather than historians and integrated this information into their album in such a beautiful way. Thornstar is in my eyes their superlative album yet. Whenever I listen to it, the music gives me every feeling a great album should. You feel what these people felt by listening to the music and the lyrics the band has written. Love, loss, life, death. It’s absolutely exquisite. 

Thornstar wasn’t an album that was originally planned for the band. It was a direct reflection of the band not being able to join KMFDM on their scheduled tour of America in 2017 due to Visa issues. I personally would rather have this album and wait for a US tour. It’s that good! My favorite songs from this album are Black Halo, Haythor, The Mortarian, Forevermore, and Free Radicals, which is available on the Deluxe Edition. I highly recommend the Deluxe Edition. Lord Of The Lost have also created the album 10 Thorns. 10 Thorns consists of 10 acoustic versions of some of the songs on Thornstar. They chose the exemplary songs for an acoustic album. I highly recommend watching the music videos for On This Rock I Will Build My Church, Loreley, Black Halo, Morgana, and Voodoo Doll on Youtube. They’re available for your viewing pleasure on the official Napalm Records Youtube channel. 

I cannot wait to see what this band has in store for us. I certainly hope there is a Swan Songs III in the future! If you haven’t, check these guys out! They are so remarkable and their talent is far beyond anything I could ask for in a band. If you’re into Goth Rock, Industrial Metal, Gothic Metal, or Dark Rock then Lord Of The Lost is the band for you! 

Music video for the opening track, On This Rock I Will Build My Church 

Track Listing: 

1. On This Rock I Will Build My Church

2. Loreley 

3. Black Halo 

4. In Our Hands 

5. Morgana 

6. Haythor 

7. Naxxar 

8. Cut Me Out 

9. The Mortarian 

10. Under The Sun 

11. In Darkness, In Light 

12. Forevermore 

13. Ruins 

Deluxe Only Tracks:

14. Abracadabra (Feat. Dero Goi)

15. Voodoo Doll

16. The Art Of Love 

17. Lily Of The Vale

18. Penta 

19. Free Radicals

20. Live, Pray, Die, Repeat