Aurorawave – Monument
Aurorawave – Monument
Ineffable Music
Release Date: 15/08/2025
Review by Beth Morait
10/10
Have you ever wondered what Rage Against The Machine would have sounded like if they got Corey Taylor and Shaggy in to do guest vocals, and got Bob Marley to write the songs? Well, wonder no more! Because that is the sound of Aurorawave! Hailing from LA, this USA Metal band lovingly coin their genre ‘Reggaecore’, and their sophomore album, ‘Monument’ is quite possibly the most chill album you’ll here ever. And to be honest it doesn’t quite feel right me sitting at my desk with a cup of tea writing this. I should be sitting under a palm tree on a beach, with a Pina Colado and an interesting cigarette!
Never in a million years did I expect to get a RATM-esque banger like ‘Wave Sh-t’ next door to a pure ‘We’re Jammin’ style Reggae number (with added Metalcore) like ‘Suffocate’. But that’s the type of thing this album serves up. It’s musically brilliant, capturing all the elements of both Reggae and Metalcore. Great clean vocals, Rap, heavy guitars and drums, Reggae rhythms, harmonies, some screamo, and all with a current, modern edge. There’s even a bit of an Industrial feel to some of the underlying Bass lines. This is pure genius.
This whole album is just a brilliant listen, but my standout track of the album has to be ‘Wave Sh-t’. It’s a proper nostalgia trip back to the late 90s, which really is my thing. It’s got Rap section that any RATM fan in the 90s would have spent hours rewinding and replaying to learn the lyrics. It’s got a catchy chorus, and solid beat, and is definitely a crowd pleaser that will have people chanting along and waving their shit! And it’s got a hint of Indie in the echo effect on the main guitar hook.
Despite the influences from yesteryear, the sound Aurorwave make on this album feels modern and absolutely current. It’s also got a lot of nods to another favourite of mine – Skindred. But it’s completely unique in it’s complete sound in my opinion. It’s definitely a concept that shouldn’t work on paper, but Aurorawave have ripped up the rule book, thrown caution to the wind, and created a truly spectacular thing! If you like Reggae and Metal, and always wished the two could seamlessly meet, then this is the summer soundtrack for you!
TRACKLISTING:
01. Judge Me (ft. Aaron Gillespie of Underoath)
02. Wave Sh-t
03. Suffocate (ft. Kumar Fyah)
04. Tibetan Sky Burial (ft. Frankie Palmeri of Emmure)
05. Turn The Page
06. Seize The Day (ft. The Movement)
07. Villain
08. Throwing Shade (ft. Jesse Royal)
09. Never Gonna Stop Us (ft. Ekoh)
10. Welcome To Your Nightmare (ft. Left To Suffer)
11. Keep The Faith
LINKS:
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