SONIC REIGN — Monument in Black (review)

SONIC REIGN — Monument in Black album cover Album · 2013 · Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
adg211288
Monument in Black (2013) is the second full-length album by German black metal duo Sonic Reign. The group has had quite the lengthy gap between releases as their debut album, Raw Dark Pure, was released in 2006, with none of the minor releases that many other artists have in between the albums, so I guess if you’d been following Sonic Reign back then it may have seemed as if they dropped off the face of the Earth. But anyway, they’re back, so regardless of it you knew of them back in 2006 or are new to them like me let’s see what they’re all about.

While the album may on the surface seem to be a no-frills attached black metal affair, it’s a very modern take on the genre that I’m hearing here. I’m thinking the more recent works of Satyricon or Darkthrone circa The Cult Is Alive as the most obvious reference points for Sonic Reign’s music. The production is a lot clearer and more polished than say Darkthrone’s earlier work, but still with a bit of a raw, dirty edge to it. The production job suits the music perfectly, as it allows Sonic Reign to show off the more groovy side to their riffs. It’s not however anywhere near as punky as Darkthrone became. Otherwise though we’re still dealing with a black metal record that conforms to what you’d expect to hear out of a record from the genre, and although it comes across as being distinctly more creative than many black metal albums are, it’s not exactly revolutionary. Sometimes though there’s nothing wrong with that, so long as you are good at what you do. Sonic Reign are most definitely good at what they do.

Although I can’t honestly say Monument in Black is an essential black metal release I’ve enjoyed listening to it a fair bit and if you like the recent work of Satyricon and Darkthrone it’s most definitely an album you may find to be of interest. A great album tier rating is deserved.

80/100

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven (http://metaltube.freeforums.org/sonic-reign-monument-in-black-t2770.html))
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