MANKIND GRIEF are ready to get weird with their latest album "Monarch" released through Lacerated Enemy Records. This Barcelona band describes themselves as alien-themed deathcore and it's obvious they are fully prepared for interplanetary destruction. This album actually tells a full-on science fiction story involving biological warfare, civil war, the fall of an empire, and the rise of a new lord. Who doesn't enjoy an extraterrestrial concept album? The album begins with a slow-burn - you know that kind of feeling when you're like "Did I press play or not?" But "The Surge" quickly becomes a mighty beast of sound that will set the tone for the rest of the album. Pig squeals, filthy breakdowns, insane tempos, and gut-wrenching gutturals abound on this one. I really enjoy the diversity of the vocals from Isaac Trullols. It seems like he can do it all.

The breakdown in "Scourge of the Macrocosm" is just next level. The whole later part of the song is unbelievably sick. This is definitely the standout song on the album for me. However, "Planetary Inquisition" holds a close candle to it. It's such an epic song and I felt like the ominous feeling from the interlude before it "Acheron (LV-426)" led into it perfectly. Another song that has a really funky and interesting breakdown is the title track "Monarch." I feel like MANKIND GRIEF really started packing in the punches in the later part of the album. There's nothing wrong with the first few songs, but once "Scourge of the Macrocosm" hits, things really start to get wild. Of course, the music fits perfectly with the story. And "Worldeater" was the perfect song to end the album, as it definitely reminded me of the background song for the rise of a new lord in a movie.

My one small complaint is because of the story behind the album and the band's self-proclaimed alien-themed deathcore title, I wanted more spacey sounds mixed into the music. Kind of like what a lot of doom and stoner bands do, but make it deathcore and keep it creepy and menacing instead of explorative. There's a little bit of it scattered throughout, but more would have really made it feel alien-themed. Fans of traditional deathcore will surely enjoy this band and I think the concept behind the album just makes it even better. As a reader, I appreciate a good story, even one told through music.