Monolith Wielder album review – Monolith Wielder

Beer-guzzling good-time vibes from the heart of Steel City

Monolith Wielder album cover

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Humble rock‘n’roll made for beerheads who still guzzle at the fountain of Black Sabbath should never be underestimated. Straight outta Pittsburgh, Monolith Wielder favour the simplistic medley of doom and blues that summons the spirit of Down, Sabbath and Saint Vitus, which is perhaps surprising consider their drummer plays for ethereal jazzy prog-rock combo Mandrake Project.

But for every yin there is a yang and this four-piece are all about good times and nasty hangovers. While predictable, their eponymous debut is chock-a-block with upbeat tempos and downtuned Sabbathian menace. Show-off solos complement the man-sized stomp that effuses this record while Gero von Dehn croons like a hobo tanked up on cheap cider throughout. It’s not quite monolithic but it is rock solid.

Holly Wright

With over 10 years’ experience writing for Metal Hammer and Prog, Holly has reviewed and interviewed a wealth of progressively-inclined noise mongers from around the world. A fearless voyager to the far sides of metal Holly loves nothing more than to check out London’s gig scene, from power to folk and a lot in between. When she’s not rocking out Holly enjoys being a mum to her daughter Violet and working as a high-flying marketer in the Big Smoke.