Last year we enthusiastically shared Sydney-based indie-rock quartet Monks of Mellonwah‘s Neurogenesis, an EP that showed off the group’s technical ability and strong songcraft. And after a year of releasing increasingly great great music like their Sky and The Dark Night concept EP, the Monks are finally ready to release their first proper LP, Turn The People. Listening to the album, you get the sense that the band has fully come into its own skin. Musically and lyrically, the album is confident and polished rather than wide-eyed and over-reaching like many debuts.

The most notable thing about the Monks to me has always been their decidedly futuristic style. While so many indie-rock bands are turning to pastiche of decades-old styles, Monks of Mellonwah shamelessly embrace the now and the yet-to-be. Though there are hints of ’70s prog-rock or ’90s alternative, these allusions are are more reference points than fully embraced styles. Their music, instead of following trends, is as true to themselves as it can be, and that’s a large part of their success. Through heavy rock songs, glam bombast, and intimate acoustic ballads, Turn The People is eclectic and well-crafted throughout.

While the album won’t be officially released until March of this year, you can currently stream the whole album on bandcamp.

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