OK, here me out. Today, I'm talking to Andy Viviers of the avant garde South African death metal set, Monolith.
This is probably the first band from South Africa being covered on these pages, but not the first Africans of course.
So, let's find out what makes Andy tick a bit shall we?
Check out the new record on BANDCAMP.
1. Is there an event you can point to you that made you say, wow, that's the instrument I want to play? Not like guitar or drums, but the reason why you play the model you do?
Andy: Unlike many first world countries, not all brands are as readily available in South Africa. You may come across a rare import from time-to-time, or have saved up enough to be able to import your dream model, but choices are largely limited to what local music stores have decided to stock.
That being said, Mick Thomson’s B.C. Rich Warlock was an awe-inspiring sight to many teenage metal-heads, myself included. This drove me to seek out any pointy or pentagram branded guitar I could get my hands on.
These days, I use an Ibanez 7-string as a result of the quality of the brand, as well as the practical advantages which the extended range brings to our music.
2. How do you write a song?
Andy: We don’t have a specific formula for song writing, but there are a few common ways in which a song may develop.
They are very often the result of either attempting to play a specific chord progression on the guitar in various ways, or through noodling on the guitar and stumbling upon a rhythmical or melodic idea which has a lot of character.
The rest of the song will usually build itself around such a part, but the most important aspect is that the song attempts to take the listener on some form of musical journey.
3. How many concept records do you own? Could you ever write one?
Andy: As a band, we own quite a few concept albums, our favourite of which is most probably Opeth’s ‘Ghost Reveries’. Being huge fans of the concept albums, we have written exclusively in that format thus far.
Our latest album, ‘The Lord Conspirator’ (released on 28th April via MMD Records), is a concept album which tells the journey of psychoanalysis with the protagonist stripping back the layers of his own shortcomings in an attempt to confront and overcome them.
4. Who's influence is most evident in your music? The least?
Andy: It’s quite difficult to pin down one band, but we do take a lot of inspiration from Akercocke. Many of the elements found in our music can be found in theirs, specifically the mixture of black metal, death metal, and more progressive elements.
Furthermore, we draw a lot of inspiration from bands such as Morbid Angel, Gorguts, and Opeth.
5. Which one of your songs is the one your the most proud of?
Andy: The band’s favourite song would have to be ‘The Perilous Edge’, albeit by a narrow victory.
We are very pleased with how the song translated onto the record, and cannot wait to perform it live as it contains one of our favourite riffs to play.
6. Sum up your latest record for us
Andy: Our latest record seeks to maintain the darkness and brutality that the band is well-known for, while further developing our melodic expression. ‘The Lord Conspirator’ is a brooding album which provides the listener with many different shades of musical colour, and gives the listener the sense of having been on a musical journey.
The album contains contrasting moods which develop as the record progresses, lending itself to a dynamic listening experience. Be sure to listen to our latest single ‘Black Earth’s Gate’ available now on Bandcamp and Youtube as well as getting hold of the album in its entirety on the 28th of April 2020.
We hope you enjoy ‘The Lord Conspirator’.
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