Aiming to broaden its horizons, the German band’s new work presents vast lyrical content and invigorated songs
Dancing in the shadows of gothic rock, the German group mono inc. shows a very healthy strength and resilience. With two decades on the road and more than a dozen albums released, the quartet continues to attract the attention of audiences from different generations, with its dark and captivating sound. An example of this is the most recent studio work ravenblack (2023).
Its history dates back to the 2000s, when the then drummer martin engler decided to assume the position of vocalist, thus releasing the second album, Temple of the Tor(2013). From then on, they started to release several works, reaching the point of reaching the first place in the German charts, with The Book of Fire (2020).
Since 2022, he had been presenting fans with several singles, which brought different themes: perseverance in achieving your goals – “At The End of a Rainbow” It is “empire” –, and of love in “Lieb Mich” It is “princess of the night”.
Watch the official music video for “Princess of the Night”
Denser themes are also addressed, revealing more of Engler’s personality. A political tone emerges in “after dark”. “I don’t think we’re a political band, but I’m 51 and I’ve been around a lot. I have my opinion on things. Besides, I’m too old to just write silly songs about any nonsense with no content.”, comments the vocalist.
The importance of letters in the work of mono inc. is fundamental in this gear. “The lyrics in Ravenblack (2023) are the essence of what I’ve been thinking about for the past two years. Everything there is true and represents me 100%. If you listen carefully, you’ll see how I think”, vents.
A highlight of this album is the fact that the sound is becoming more and more organic, without losing the main characteristics of the group’s personality. The pandemic turned out to be crucial.
“I didn’t do anything related to music in that period. We moved to Portugal and I spent most of my time at the beach with my son and wife. I was away from it all for almost two years and it was very refreshing. When we got back to Germany, I was full of great ideas. We started writing in March and I think we finished it in May, including production. It was very fast“, account.
This twelfth album was recorded by the original members: martin engler (vocal), Carl Fornia (guitar), Katha Mia (battery), and Val Perun (low).
“I was a roadie for a band that was playing before I joined. When I saw them, it was a thrilling sight. It was a big jump, shocking and surprising, in a good way. Working with them on stage is wonderful.”, is excited Perun.
One point that is constant in the band’s career is having songs in German. Ravenblack (2023), is no exception to the rule, and Martin explains. “I would say we are an English speaking band. But, for example, when we came up with the riff for ‘Lieb Mich’, the first thing that came to mind were German verses. It feels like the universe wants me to write a song like that. We listen to our hearts and do what feels right. The most important thing is that we like the album, because we will have to live with it for the rest of our lives.”.
Mono Inc. now prepares to hit the road once more. They start promoting the new album with an extensive tour of Europe, with Storm Seeker and Sanz as guest bands.
“We will start in April with performances across Germany. Then we’ll play summer festivals and then we’ll move on to the rest of the continent between September and October. We will go to Great Britain, Poland, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Switzerland and France. I think it will be around 50 shows”, explain the vocalist and bassist.
However, the European territory is not the only objective. The group prepares its first visit to South America, to meet its admirers. Judging by Ravenblack (2023), this idea is booming.
Hoffman & O’brian
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Content by Hoffman & O’brian
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
