German post-metal newcomers MONOSPHERE unleash “The Unknown Voice” – their heaviest track to date
With releasing their sophomore album “Sentience” in 2023, Monosphere have finally established themselves as one of the most exciting acts in the German prog/post-metal scene. Having toured with The Hirsch Effekt, Rolo Tomassi, Celeste, Imperial Triumphant as well as selected shows with The Ocean, Napalm Death, The Dear Hunter and Humanity’s Last Breath, they’ve already proven their musical versatility as well as their professional level. They’ll join DVNE on some dates this June for a short European-run.
“The Unknown Voice” marks the beginning of a new era for Monosphere. Darker than ever, their new single wraps their explosive sound in an oppressive post-metal atmosphere, combined with DSBM-influences while gaining explosiveness carried by rhythmic elements. Their strong bond to black metal and post-metal creates a unique vision that becomes increasingly avant-garde, while breaking with traditions of the more classical prog metal sound or modern derivates with extinguishing most of their early metalcore-roots. Amidst blast beats and tremolo guitars, Monosphere let their deeply rooted black metal roots shine through, adding plenty of groove, atmosphere and the prominent piano-driven melody. Composer Rodney Fuchs, who has written the song together with bass player Marlon Palm comments on the single as follows: “It was a completely new challenge to write a single that stands for itself after two huge concept albums.”
But “The Unknown Voice” is more than just a standalone single and acts as a harbinger of the band’s new chapter, while a reference to “The Lover” (from 2021’s “The Puppeteer”) reveals itself and once again shows the band’s progressive attitude to draw a greater picture. As Fuchs comments further: “We didn’t want a song that was completely out of context. The link to ‘The Puppeteer’ is almost obvious to fans of our music. In addition, ‘The Unknown Voice’ offers a preview of what’s to come.”
Similarly mythical and obscured as before, Monosphere offer plenty of room for interpretation. Mainly influenced by non-orthodox black metal acts like DHG, Celeste, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Alcest and Deafheaven, Monosphere sound darker than ever, while still maintaining a progressive vibe within their music as well as sheer brutality that has never been as brute and vivid, as on “The Unknown Voice”.