MONUMENT - "HELLHOUND" (2018)

MONUMENT - "HELLHOUND"
(Running time: 42:48 minutes; 9 songs)
("Rock of Angels Records"; 2018; CD):

Okay, yes, incoming is now already the next dose for you and this time it is my record-review on the new MONUMENT full-length-album "HELLHOUND" released pretty recently in 2018 via "ROCK OF ANGELS RECORDS" on CD. Before "HELLHOUND" MONUMENT from London, England/U.K. were total strangers to me, why ever, and if you now ask yourself what awaits us here let me here and now just name three terms: (1.) Heavy Metal; (2.) NWOBHM; and (3.) IRON MAIDEN, yes, and this 'trio of terms' sums up and tells you pretty much already the most important informations about MONUMENT and their unleashed "HELLHOUND". This is really old school 'spirited' and done British Heavy Metal but thank to the mighty gods too energetic and fresh and alive-lively done to be any lame and stale retro crap stuff and that's damn, damn good. Beside this… MONUMENT come close to be sort of an IRON MAIDEN ripp off, because, yes, "HELLHOUND" sounds like an IRON MAIDEN album somewhere between maybe "THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST" and "PIECE OF MIND", okay, but definitely without being exactly that groundbreaking and lifechanging fantastic and great but how could they and so not blaming them and this not even a single bit. But, yes, I miss anyhow a bit of a fresh and own unique identity and character and like in most of this cases I still would choose the original over the copy any time, if you get what I'm saying, but with that said, yes, MONUMENT have done a very decent and a really good job here on and with "HELLHOUND" and so expect rousing and high octane songwriting non stopp and a damn good album filled to the max with air raid siren vokillz, fast galloping bass runs, thundering guitar riffs and thrilling twin guitar leads and exciting solos, and forceful 'weasel-nimbly' drumming as well as grapping arranged verses and huge refrains. Truly, yes, pretty much top notch stuff… just maybe sort of find a bit more of your own character… but what do I know and who am I to judge anyhow. Beside IRON MAIDEN there aren't that many more influences or comparisions to name here beside the fact that the opener "WILLIAM KIDD", as really damn fucking strong as it truly is, is a through and through RUNNING WILD ripp off (but with too weak vocals) and that the fantastic "NIGHTRIDER" is heavily inspired by the almighty JUDAS PRIEST and "THE END" showcases some U.S. Metal influences somewhere between OMEN and MANOWAR thrown into the mix and then that's it. A bunch of strong lyrics, a gorgeous artwork, and a pretty heavy and yet natural production-sound then finally round it all up. My personal favorites would be or better are "ATTILA", "NIGHTRIDER", "THE END", "STRAIGHT THROUGH THE HEART", "WILLIAM KIDD", and "HELLHOUND", yes, so maybe try that songs out first. That's all what I have so far to say to/about MONUMENT's "HELLHOUND", an album any IRON MAIDEN fan and especially any IRON MAIDEN fan of their legendary earlier works who like me, myself, and I can't really connect to their über-'bombastic' current works will surely love and hail. Like already said is my only problem with it that it too often comes a bit too close to being sort of an IRON MAIDEN copy but that many other (bigger) negative points aren't to be found up here and so to any Heavy Metal and especially NWOBHM and/or IRON MAIDEN fan I can only recommend MONUMENT's "HELLHOUND" here and now and this clearly.

(8,5 of 10 points)

http://www.monumentband.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

MONUMENT - "ATTILA" (2018, "HELLHOUND")