Although this writer has personally expressed his dislike for most of the laughable US nu-metallers on numerous occasions, he's been heartened to hear a number of UK outfits - like FULC and Brody - doing considerably more positive things with the rock oeuvre's heavier end and showing that it doesn't have to conform to cliche.
Hailing from the London/ Kent 'burbs, young quartet MONOKEY are another example of Brit hard rockers trying to tweak with the genre and carve a niche for themselves. In all fairness, they're not as fully-formed'n'fantastic (yet) as either Brody or FULC, but in places they're getting there.
"Sin," their debut 4-tracker (available for the very reasonable £4 from www.monokey.net ) shows that the band are a tight, well-drilled unit who are clearly unafraid of either utilising tempo changes or showing a more sensitive side when the opportunity arises.
"Sin" itself kicks off, though it's rather too generic for this writer, revelling in standard, grungy rifferama and little to distinguish it from the pack, although the chorus suggests MONOKEY have a decent grasp of dynamics.
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Second track "End Of This" is more interesting, with the band grasping for something epic and singer James at one stage muttering "go kill yourself." It's full of vengeance and quite creepy. By some way, though, the best tracks are "Fashionable Loser" and the closing "Stand Alone." The former builds effectively with haunting acoustics and harmonies given the chance to pull up a chair and dwell, while the ruthless, gripping riffs of "Stand Alone" incite drummer Christian into a ferocious performance and James to again prove his vocal worh.
In all honesty, some of "Sin" ain't entirely this writer's jug of acid-spiked punch, but that's more because alt.metal doesn't (as a rule) register too high on his totem pole. "Sin," however, isn't without its' merits and it suggests MONOKEY are on the cusp of a future.
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