Modern Monsters - Malice - Album Review - 90s Alternative Heavy Rock from San Francisco, California, USA
Today, I am reviewing "Malice" by Modern Monsters, a 90s alternative heavy rock EP from the Bay Area in San Francisco, released on March 24, 2023.
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Another sunny Tuesday in the Swiss mountains, and I'm enjoying Modern Monsters' latest EP, "Malice," 19 minutes of good old-school alternative heavy rock music.
After listening to the entire EP multiple times today, what stands out for me is the music's traditional origins and familiar influences. During your listen, you can hear Metallica, Alice in Chains, Radiohead, Red Fang, and Foo Fighters, performed with the necessary energy and attitude that one would expect from a live band. "Malice" offers a fresh take on 90s rock that will appeal to anyone who loves the era.
The American band's musical foundation is built entirely on familiar 90s influences, blending alternative, stoner, blues, heavy rock, and metal. While the band's approach is conventional, it results in a comfortable and familiar sound that's easy to enjoy from start to finish. It seems that Modern Monsters wanted to build a character based on their live performance energy, and they succeeded in doing so. As a result, "Malice" delivers the same pleasure as hearing 90s rock on the radio.
On the technical side, the EP's natural sounding energy is its strongest aspect. While the sound design isn't particularly unique to Modern Monsters, it sounds great. The mix is live with massive headroom and dynamics, pulling the listener into the electrifying world of the EP. Overall, "Malice" is a flawless listen that provides great entertainment value.
On the other side of the coin, I fear that Modern Monsters will only be remembered as a traditional band rather than a unique one. As I mentioned earlier, the album both musically and technically relies on familiar influences that create an impact but sound a bit too similar to some listeners.
In conclusion, listening to "Malice" was a great pleasure for its raw and irresistible live-energy. Great sounding 90s alternative rock with live-performing energy and influences from Metallica, Nirvana, Red Fang, Foo Fighters, and Radiohead. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy "Malice" as much as I did.
Malice (2023) Album Front Cover Artwork Art Credit: Unknown
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