The sheer abrasiveness of Tanya Elizabeth’s vocals on opening track ‘Carnal’, on new EP Vehemence is something of a shock if you haven’t heard her before. Cascading from black metal screams to death metal growls, her range is impressive and forms an integral part of the whole sound of Monochromatic Black. Intense and furious, there is also a measured tone to the band as they throw intricate riffs against pummelling kick drums on the six tracks included. Where the first track is full on blasts of fury, ‘Specter’ is much more progressive. As the song progresses there are atmospheric moments which elevate the music into something much more cinematic.
Of course, these brief moments only serve to increase the brutality of riffs such as on ‘Blood Rush’. A chaotic track swinging from death metal roar to deathcore. ‘Heritage’ continues in this vein as the EP travels down its haunting, despairing path. Joy is sucked out in true black metal style leaving you adrift on its frozen blasts. It’s an utterly joyless journey, and all the more fantastic because of it.
Those deathcore influences come more to the fore later as the EP coalesces around the stunning final track Lovelorn. This New York band may only be at the beginning of their music journey but tracks like this demonstrate a mastery of their art already. Bands like these may be ten a penny these days but few are as good. Twenty three minutes that will last with you a long time. Excellent.
