Elyna Kahn
A strange yet charming combination of sinister sounds that evoke a creepy soundtrack, with encounters between 90s depressive Rock, Candlemass-style epic Doom, and depressive ambient, with hints of Celtic folk and an atmosphere reminiscent of a sunset walk through icy Nordic forests. All this unfolds on a tapestry that conveys innocence, tenderness, and a cosy feeling of peaceful pain, a kind of catharsis where loneliness and sadness become endearing companions who understand the shadows carried by the human soul. It is precisely what the Scandinavian band Monograph brings us with its new album, Occultation.
These elements come together powerfully in Occultation. On the one hand, the melancholy of 90s Rock is reflected in the dirty distortion of the guitars, and even in the emphasis on the sound of the tuning peg, which takes centre stage during chord transitions. Along with this, the sombre and beautiful vocals and deep, introspective lyrics evoke a sense of realistic despair without embellishment or false illusions, echoing grunge and Post-Grunge and adding a layer of dense emotionality typical of the alternative Rock of that era, where not everything was dragons, knights, and Power Metal.
The slow, heavy riffs, together with melodies in flat and low keys and deep choirs, convey a sadness and rage that border on the epic, giving the whole thing an epic Doom feel that strongly recalls Candlemass. It becomes a gentle, unhurried journey through the icy landscapes of Scandinavian forests, filled with the cathartic force of nostalgia and emptiness, dark but necessary to be reborn from the ashes — or from the snow, depending on how you want to experience it. On the other hand, the ethereal and dense sounds merge with moments of calm, creating an atmosphere of nostalgia and painful introspection. The air grows heavy with keyboards that resonate in your chest and give voice to your shadows, finding words in the form of notes that speak of your own loneliness in a moment of pure reflection, something depressive ambient achieves par excellence.
Occultation also stands out for its moments of soft melodies that invite a solitary but beautiful dance, thanks to the influence of instruments typical of Celtic music such as violins, acoustic guitars, and flutes. It connects with roots and ancestry, which, although nostalgic, manages to convey a sense of peace amid darkness.
Finally, Occultation leans fully into the cold nature of Nordic landscapes. The chill, the crunch of leaves under your boots, or a torch violently illuminating a dark path are the images that arise in songs like “The Prophet” or the enchanting “Ashes”. The powerful contrast between raw sounds and torn vocals with acoustic passages and almost whispered lines creates an intensely enveloping soundscape, transporting you to a lonely, unsettling world of hidden beauty. In that sense, Occultation by Monograph becomes cosy company beside a bonfire and the perfect soundtrack for watching the last rays of the Nordic sun kiss the tops of frozen pines before surrendering to the long, merciless winter.
Label: Overheard Productions
Release date: November 14, 2025
Website: https://nordicmission.bandcamp.com/album/occultation
Country: Norway
Score: 3.5/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 