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Reviews

“You'll find riffs a plenty on this album, so if you ever worried about not having enough memorable or headbangable guitar work you can put your mind at ease.”
- Cave Dweller Music
“Screeching riffs, soaring solos and massive hooks, the guitar work on this album is solid as fuck. Then we have the constant battering meted out by the drums and the extra thickness given by the frantic bass playing. All complimented by a scornful set of vocals that are less sung and more spat out. When Monarch speak, we listen.” -“Future Shock might be traditional but it’s not crusty sounding.” -“No matter if thrash is the creed which you live by or you’re venturing into the frenzied scene for the first time. Monarch will appeal to all who like their heavy metal to sound…well, like heavy metal.”
- GBHGL.COM
-“While modern thrash albums can feel like they are just pastiches of older thrash outings, FUTURE SHOCK songs distinctive and modern while still keeping true to their thrash roots”
- Dale Unsworth - Ramzine
“This is what Monarch does so well: music, fantasy lyrics and imagination create a movie soundtrack in your mind.” -“‘Future Shock’ is a true showcase of the range of Monarch’s technical ability.” -“This band is definitely under-appreciated at the moment. There’s too much technique and flair here for them to be flying under the radar. Monarch are perhaps too often written off as pretenders to bigger bands but they aren’t pretending. They are owning their genre.”
- Uber Rock UK
“Overall, with Future Shock Monarch delivers a quality album – ten strong metal tracks - that will be welcomed by fans of thrash, speed, and power.” -“Album closer “Metal Soul” alternates between power-metal banger and thrash ripper, with singer Matt Smith continuing with a superb feral voice.” -“It’s sneaky good! For those familiar with the debut Go Forth… Slaughter, Future Shock in my opinion is a clear improvement and exhibits real songwriting growth. The songs just are a lot more varied and developed, and have additional space to breath within. The compositions provide just enough room for the guitarists to celebrate their skills and they do so without showing any signs of repetition. The tempos are fast, and the riffs thoughout are very reminiscent of vintage metal without sounding overly dated. Also - the production is a huge improvement. Really the production quality on this album is superb. Everything is mixed well and quite simply crushing in its delivery!”
- The Great Metal Debate
“With “Future Shock” MONARCH can put a really big exclamation mark in the Thrash Metal landscape. If you are into playful and lightning-fast Thrash Metal with a lot of Speed ​​Metal components, you can hardly avoid “Future Shock”. Mandatory purchase!”
- Route 666
“This hard hitting, yet very melodic, with some great hooks and choruses, the riffs and solos simply fly around your ears. If you’re a fan of the likes of Havok, Warbringer at el, you could do far worse than checking out this exciting foursome. Great stuff.”
- The Razor's Edge
“Monarch’s FUTURE SHOCK is a sonic thunderbolt and a literal shred fest of the thrash metal that we love.”
- Metal Chaos Magazine
Californian thrash metal merchants Monarch certainly know how to whip up a moshpit-ready whirlwind of noise! Their new album, Future Shock, scheduled for release on April 16th through your preferred music vendor, is one of the best of it’s type I’ve heard in a while, that’s for certain.
- Sentinel Daily
“METAL SOUL is the tune that ends in the best way this brilliant album that WE SUGGEST WITHOUT HESITATION!!!”
- hardrockheavymetal.com
“The twin shredding from Casey Trask & Matt Smith is masterfully magical and fabulously face-melting. The rhythm section from Adam West & Gabe Mendez also provide a rock solid backbone to keep all of the sonic chaos standing…. …The ability to blend so many influences together so well proves that Monarch are a thrash metal force to be reckoned with.”
- UK Thrashers