Montroze – The Forthcoming ‘Monster Under The Bed’ EP

Montroze – Midsomer Norton/Bath, England, United Kingdom.

It’s high time once more for some Bath flavoured Pop-Punk, with a dash of Midsomer Norton thrown in for good measure.

You may remember MF’s previous works on Montroze from back in November 2014, and the earlier part of this year. The first, concerning their debut EP, can be found here. The more recent piece concerns a live review and also contains some other South-West talent, so have a gander, we dare you – click here.

Since Montroze’s last release, the band have reduced their number by one in order to fit all their gear in the car. That obviously isn’t the real reason, but I’ll stick to my own moronic reasoning.

Anyway, the band’s sound has morphed massively since that first EP. Harder edged, bigger hooks, stronger melodies… You get the idea.

Track one certainly doesn’t live up to it’s own title or namesake. ‘Underperformer’ performs with a heightened level of performance. Sub par humour aside, it was the first track from the EP to be seen by the public eye, and sets the tone for it perfectly.

The band’s trademark melodic Pop-Punk blend, with its Rock sensibilities and Pop hooks, hasn’t lost its identity, but has, to put it bluntly, got a hell of a lot chunkier.

I know what you’re thinking, and yes, “chunkier” is the word I am sticking with as I’m clearly all about professionalism.

Track two, ‘The End Game’ ups the ante on the harder riffage, with a jagged little intro before some unexpected speed after a vocal line or two. More akin to the post-Four Year Strong sound Pop-Punk, it rumbles along in its own jagged manner. Much like track one, the faster sections elude the band’s new direction.

Three’s approach continues the sizeable sound of its predecessor, as the “Rockier” elements of the band shine, as do the Pop sensibilities contained within Jason Bishop’s vocal notes. Montroze’s ability to mix and alternate tempos within a single song are a huge trait in their repertoire, and ‘Walking Contradiction’ is a fine example.

Four. ‘Blush’ pounds along behind it’s guitar lead, producing a fast and refreshing set of the old school, which again shows the band’s new direction. They are faster and certainly more eager to be heard. The more guitar-led nature of the music, (despite the dropping of a member), really suits them. Expect classic Montroze in this track, but also expect certain affixed elements to shine through.

Every release needs it’s ballad. Track five, ‘Good Old Days’, fits the bill nicely.

Some of you may have seen ‘Fit For A King’ as an acoustic session for DKW (who can be found here) a while back. Well, as good as that was (click here), the “plugged in” version not only far surpasses it’s low key sibling, but provides you with the best track on the release.

I shan’t utter too much, only that track five, much like the rest of this EP, cites it’s past while swiftly moving forward.

8.5/10

If you’re interested in Monster Under The Bed, then the following information and links should serve you well. Upon release, which is set for mid-June, the EP will be available for purchase on iTunes and bandcamp, with some physical copies available from the band and at shows.

For all your streaming needs search for Montroze on Spotify and check out their Youtube Channel.

Don’t forget to keep track of the band via their Facebook and Twitter profiles.

One last note, the first EP is available for FREE and is available on bandcamp.

#StayFresh