Formed in the late 70s and drawing attention to themselves in 1982/83 thanks to a pair of storming EP releases, the recently-returned Amebix have proved themselves to be one of the most influential artists in the history of heavy music.
Combining punk and metal influences at a time when both movements were heading towards greater extremity, the group would inspire future names such as Sepultura and essentially give birth to the entire crust punk genre, a movement still going strong today.
By the time the band made this second full-length in 1987, they were leaning more towards the thrash of Venom than the hardcore punk of Discharge. On Monolith the comparisons are inescapable, due to both Rob ‘The Baron’ Miller’s vocals and the metallic chug of the material. While both of the aforementioned bands shared a loose playing style and a definite Motörhead streak, Amebix were a rather less chaotic and aggressive proposition: the raw malevolence of the Newcastle trio replaced with a more thoughtful approach, clean guitars and slower, atmospheric passages that aptly reflected the apocalyptically-tinged anti-war lyrics.
Released on 180g vinyl and with an impressive sleeve that makes the most of the HR Giger-esque artwork, this is heartily recommended to fans of punk and metal alike.
