Monarch (band)
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The picturesque backdrop of the France's Northern Basque Country is hardly the first thing that springs to mind when one hears the music of Monarch. As an avalanche of feedback-drenched riffs come slowly, slooooowly down on top of you, shrill cries screech out like a murder of crows. Somewhere amidst the muck, drums pound out a distant funeral beat. This is a girl singing? This is the CD with the heart and the rainbow in the artwork? They're French?
As probably the only band to include both Burning Witch and Jam Master Jay in their thanks list , Monarch have always been a horse of a different color, and it is probably pink. Forming in Bayonne in 2002, Monarch were born from the ashes of powerviolence band Tetsuo, and the apple couldn't have fallen farther from the tree. Taking inspiration from the likes Black Sabbath, Noothgrush, Corrupted and the Melvins, Monarch was created with the sole intention of exploring the slower end of the musical spectrum. Although lumped into the extreme Doom Metal scene due to the tortuous, extended nature of their compositions, Monarch classify themselves as more of "a really slow rock band." In fact, for all of Monarch's sonic similarities to their contemporaries, there was one particular aspect of the band that drove many a metalhead to rant and rave in frustration: the visuals.
Their albums clad in glaringly contrasted pink and black, it was in their unique visual presentation that Monarch most resembled their heroes the Melvins and Noothgrush. The Melvins, with a catalogue of albums designed solely to irk and irritate everyone from label reps to their own fans, are an obvious comparison. It was Noothgrush, however, who befuddled an entire generation of crusty punks by switching from black and white xeroxed photos of war atrocities to Strawberry Shortcake for their split 7" with Gasp, that seem to have truly made their mark on Monarch. Drawing from wells such as European graffitti, skateboarding, weirdo hardcore and Japanes animation, Monarch's cheerful melding of Satanism and Sanrio drew many negative reactions from the dour realms of Doom, who were apparently not yet tired of the same five Gustave Dore prints.
In addition, the members of Monarch are also involved in the bands Rainbow of Death, Gasmask Terror, Los Cojonudos and Miercoles, and have played in the bands George Bitch Jr., Disgain, Crust Leopard, Hell, Tetsuo, Martina Navratilova and Eelam. Ever heard of those bands? Exactly. The lack of label interest in France is just one of the many reasons that Monarch always have and always will champion a DIY ethic, preferring to play on floors instead of stages, and often releasing albums as a joint effort between multiple smaller labels. Their split with French grinders Elysium was the product of TEN labels!
[edit] MEMBERS
Current Lineup:
- Emilie Bresson aka Eurogirl - vocals
- Shiran Kaidine - guitar
- Michell Bidegain - bass
- Guillaume Lestage - drums
Former Members:
- Felix Buff - drums
[edit] DISCOGRAPHY
- S/T CD - 2005 - Throne Records/Chimeres/Solitude/NT Yo!
- CD1: Dead Men Tell No Tales + Somewhere Below the Devil is Laughing
- CD2: "Les Lumieres" Have Been Blown Out.
- CD1: Dead Men Tell No Tales + Somewhere Below the Devil is Laughing
- Split CD w/ Elysium - 2006 - Shifty / Amanita / (((Parade))) / 213 / Throne Recordes / Amertume-Corruption #2 / Fidelio / Murder / Wee Wee / Solitude
- Track: Amplifier Death March
- Speak Of The Sea LP - Throne Records
- Side A : We Are The Musicmakers
- Side B : Speak of the Devil, Speak of the Sea
