3 Responses

1. Jello Biafra Said,

   The title track from Monument’s debut E.P. featuring a guest solo performance by Judas

   Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner!

   Monument performs balls-to-the-wall aggressive Traditional British metal that will rip

   out the cones in your speakers if you hit “Play” with the volume cranked. From the

   streets of East London, Peter Ellis, former White Wizzard vocalist, takes up the

   calling and unleashes a barrage of metallic fury on the band’s EP titled Rock the

   Night. Ellis is joined by guitarists Lewis Stephens and David del Cid, bassist Jim

   Ramses and drummer Matt C.

   Monument is another up-and-coming group that delivers revitalized New Wave of British

   Heavy Metal, dubbed NWOBHM for short. But calling it that doesn’t convey the real

   meaning of this reborn genre as much as hearing it will. The wall of sound that

   Monument delivers pushes the drivers of your speakers to the limit, as the thunderous

   bass, pounding drums and metal guitars rip at your soul. Top it off with vocals

   inspired by Maiden, Priest and Lizzy Borden, and the icing simply melts right off the

   cake.

   The twin axe attack harkens back to those ‘80s giants who defined the genre and pushed

   metal to the extreme edge of the sonic landscape. The five-song EP opens with the

   title track and features none other than current Judas Priest guitarist Richie

   Faulkner, who performs a guitar solo. The music’s ferocity hits you in the gut from

   the get-go. Energized with brazened riffs and a driving beat, Ellis opens up with

   full-on-metal vocal that demands a “take-no-prisoner attitude.” By the time you slip

   into “Carry On,” your mind will be flashing back to days when metal burned like a

   flame that never could be extinguished. The song features a dual harmony riff, which

   is the catalyst that hurries over the hammering of Matt C’s drums. Ellis belts out the

   lyrics with reckless abandon.

   If you’re looking to get a breather, well, “Midnight Queen” isn’t going to deliver.

   The band chooses to keep the tempo moving. The song injects a head-bobbing groove,

   carried forth by the rhythmic chant of Ellis’ vocals. The band isn’t afraid to deliver

   anthem-style choruses, as each song, until now, features gang background vocals that

   help raise the intensity level. The solo is melodic and catchy and moves into a more

   intense jam as it progresses. It sounds as if Stephens and del Cid are taking turns

   trading off licks, and they end the solo with a dual harmony run. “Fatal Attack”

   features a dual-lead melody that eerily is reminiscent of Iron Maiden. Again, the

   tempos haven’t let up. “Blood Red Sky” wraps things up handedly, with a slightly

   slower song, although not that much slower. Like all the songs, it is melodic,

   metallic and features all the elements that die-hard NWOBHM fans will love. The

   production is over the top in its slickness, and it sounds crisp. Overall, Monument

   makes a bold statement as it enters the ring as a Metal contender. Monument definitely

   is worth all metal fans checking out.

   Genre: New Wave of British Heavy Metal or New Wave of Traditional British Metal

   Monument are:
   Peter Ellis – Vocals
   Lewis Stephens – Lead Guitar
   David del Cid – Lead Guitar
   Jim Ramses – Bass guitar
   Matt C – Drums

   Track Listing:
   1. Rock the Night
   2. Carry On
   3. Midnight Queen
   4. Fatal Attack
   5. Blood Red Sky

   Label: Independent

   Posted on January 2nd, 2013 at 7:38 pm

2. Jag Said,

   Really? Jello Biafra promoting a Judas Priest 2nd generation knock-off? This may be good, I will check it out. I am a Biafra AND Priest fan, but come ON ! Let’s not lay it on too thick.

   Posted on January 4th, 2013 at 3:42 am

3. Jag Said,

   I’d have to speak with Jello Biafra face to face before I’d begin to believe that he’d shill for Judas Priest. Sorry, you are ripping his name.

   Posted on January 4th, 2013 at 3:48 am

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