Without question, one of the most prolific bands on the planet right now has to be Toronto, Ontario hardcore punk collective Fucked Up. Earlier this year they released a sprawling double album Year of the Monkey and now they’re following that incredible recording with another double album Year of the Rooster. Continuing the epic story of Monkey and his battles with evil, once again they’ve brought in guest vocalists for each of the characters. Recorded over a seven-year period, once again, they’ve come up with something that is so utterly batshit that normal reviewing convention goes out the window!
Side A entitled ‘Clear Is The Mirror’ begins this magnum opus in wistful fashion, bringing us up to speed on Monkey’s adventures utilising a host of joyful musical styles. A triumphant barrage of riffs heralds the imminent arrival of Monkey (Damian Abraham) and his maniacal bark. Good Goat (Tuka Mohammed) always brings a brighter hue with gorgeous melodies. The story’s darker passages are laid out over stormy hardcore riffage. General Rooster (Charlie Manning Walker) adds another throat shredded voice to proceedings.
With an ass full of injected venom from Sage Bee, Monkey enters a dreamlike state as pianos and slithering guitars write like snakes. As Good Goat and General Rooster trade off their lines the atmospheric shifts into prog rock. A disorientated Monkey trashes about wildly with a riotous passage of punky hardcore riffs. There’s such magic in how the music here veers from one style to another. Throwing all manner of instruments into the mix, the final parts of Side A delve back into prog rock before ending as it began with a nursery rhyme like melody.
Side B ‘Havoc In Heaven’ feels very trippy with backtracked guitars as First Snake (Josh Zucker) hisses with pure menace. Musically the ensuing cyclical riffs recall ‘Year of the Snake’. The grinding dirge we fall into reflects Monkey’s perilous state, as First Snake threatens the end for Good Goat which sends Monkey into an uncontrollable rage. The instrumentation spirals out of control before coming to an abrupt silence. When it flows again, we’re in a sea of tranquil guitars and piano as Garrulous Hare (Isla Craig) tries to revive Monkey. Picking up from his low ebb the guitars become triumphant and joyous. Monkey is transported to a heavenly place, and the instrumentation pulls in a plethora of sounds and dreamy atmospherics. As Monkey faces up to his loss and anger he becomes momentarily redeemed before revenge returns over churning metallic riffs. Jade Monkey (John Brannon) spews forth a mighty rage with gargled vocals over hard charging riffs and thrash speed drums. Finally, Monkey finds himself in another dreamy sequence with reverbed chiming guitars and soothing melodies provide the soundtrack.
Trumpets herald the start of Side C ‘Grass Can Move Stones’ like the proclamation of a new dawn. Young Prince Grin and Perceval (Graeme Mackinnon and Mac Kennedy) are new characters who get to lead a charge over propulsive riffs and drums that sound like horses in full flight. For the next few minutes there’s a tranquil passage of lazy guitars and piano bringing a beautiful calm. Thousand Year Old Monkey (Keith Morris) duets with Thousand Year Old Goat (Debsey Wykes) with a tender warmth over gently strummed guitars. As the serenity continues the Fish Chorus (Amy Gottung and Jonah Falco) lead an operatic section that is heavenly and dreamy. The tempos quicken as Jade Monkey trades lines with Mr Eye (Chris Hansell) and Mr Time (Thurston Moore) over blistering punk prog metal. Once the storm has passed Phantom Tiger (Annie-Claude Deschenes) and the Fish Chorus bring more operatic voices over lush pastoral instrumentation.
Side D ‘Calming Winds and Waves’ opens with mournful piano as God In Hiding (Julian Richings) becomes storyteller as the Fish Chorus sound like a church choir chanting a psalm. Momentarily veering wildly into cosmic prog rock Garrulous Hare reappears as the guitars twitch. Mr Eye disrupts the serenity as we charge back to choppy hardcore, kicking and screaming all the way. Jade Monkey’s maniacal yelps are violent over what has now become a black metal storm. (By this stage, I’ve completely lost the run of the story, nigh on impossible to comprehend the lyrics, even with a lyric sheet!). The beautiful melody that Ox (Carson McHone) sings is over too quickly, before the bilious punk returns with violent intent. Woken from his slumber Monkey finally rises up with vitriolic rage. Swerving back to the church-like chanting Fish Chorus, it appears our main protagonist has finally succumbed to the evil forces. Manifold Monkey (David Nardi) sounds weary and broken before General Rooster defiantly rises from the doom. Monkey isn’t gone and neither is Good Goat, as both are reunited for a final flurry of righteous hardcore riffage as Monkey’s tells us “In the end, You become yourself, One life, two hearts”. The final moments are euphoric as Good Goat and Monkey think back on their journey and how good always prevails over evil. The duet together the closing words “Will you ring the bell that brings our story to a close, It’s as beautiful to hold as it is to let it go” over shimmering synths and swirling guitars. What an epic tale!
When Year of the Monkey arrived earlier this year, it really left this Fucked Up fan completely awestruck. A culmination of years of releasing extended plays with the Zodiac theme, it seemed the ultimate conclusion, with a host of additional vocalists and such an incredible depth of musicianship. (I should also mention at this point the remaining band members Mike Haliechuk and Sandy Miranda). So, to follow that up with ANOTHER 2-hour collection that is even more adventurous in terms of musical scope, is just insane. Year of the Rooster takes things up a notch in terms of story telling and the range of musical genres it features. If anything, this approach leaves this listener a little over awed at the extravagance of it all. Having said that, Year of the Rooster is a truly incredible, complex and extraordinary body of work.
