Review: El Moono – The Waking Sun

Style: Post-hardcore, alt metal (Mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Greg Puciato, Loathe, Deftones, Black Peaks, Arcane Roots, Moon Tooth, Exotic Animal Petting Zoo
Country: UK
Release date: 10 May 2024

Cast your mind back a decade, to sunny Britain. The UK is still riding the high of not totally embarrassing itself whilst hosting the 2012 Olympics, the leader of the opposition just lost an election by eating a bacon sandwich in an undignified manner, and the post-hardcore scene is thriving. The old guard—Funeral For A Friend, Enter Shikari, Fightstar—had evolved beyond their humble origins, for better or worse, and a new vanguard were reinvigorating the genre with greater technicality and aggression. Bands like Loathe, Arcane Roots and Black Peaks were some of the most exciting new offerings around. And, then: disaster. Arcane Roots broke up. Black Peaks soon followed. Perhaps it was low level mourning, but I feel like I’ve been disconnected from the UK metal scene ever since. However, there are rumblings: I hear rumours of a new group formed of Black Peaks members—Vower—and I’m keeping my ear to the ground to see if Giant Walker can deliver on their potential. Maybe those good old days never went away. 

Enter El Moono. This Brighton based quartet are clear torch-bearers for that halcyon heyday. Following their Temple Corrupted EP from 2022, debut album The Waking Sun delivers forty-five minutes of ballsy riffs, uncompromising vocals, and headbanging grooves. Tracks like “The Waking Sun” feature strong hooks and a grand crescendo with a belting guest performance from Leah Stanhope (Congratulations), while “Screw Loose” goes utterly unhinged in its mathier riffs and elaborate vocal performance. Often, thicker, almost shoegaze-y atmospheres ala Exotic Animal Petting Zoo (or Deftones) fog up the songs as on “Soul Eclipse” or the climax of “Illusionist”. “Phantom” may well be the biggest swing, prioritising juddering bass, ominous synth, and polyrhythmic composition in the verse, prior to the most chaotic riffs and screams on the entire album. Meanwhile, “Illusionist”, “The First Man on Mars” and “Marionettes” borrow from the hardcore of groups like Cancer Bats for savage barks and simple-yet-thunderous riffs. 

Now, post-hardcore was a genre I always had a tumultuous relationship with, and it was always down to the singers; the genre has a tendency to favour vocalists with piercingly high, whiny deliveries. That’s why the British scene was strong: Andrew Groves of Arcane Roots took The Mars Volta-esque high-toned vocals to a place of greater aggression and emotion, while Will Gardner from Black Peaks managed to go from serene highs to Mastodon-esque bellows within mere syllables. El Moono, too, avoid the genre’s usual trap, with singer Zac Jackson’s raspier invective rather redolent of Greg Puciato or Moon Tooth’s John Carbone. “Screw Loose” showcases the Puciato-ism well, with a zaniness reminiscent of The Dillinger Escape Plan’s “Black Bubblegum”, 

A lot of care goes into each track for a collection of bangers that manage to stand apart. Although the riffs can feel a little basic at times, El Moono always manage to guide the listener to unexpected destinations, building on what can initially be relatively basic ideas and consistently turning that coal into diamonds in the rough. Not everything works: a few tracks feel undercooked, particularly towards the start of the album—indeed, The Waking Sun is somewhat backloaded, and often my least favourite tracks are the ones the band chose as singles. I’d also be remiss not to mention that the low end isn’t always as well cared for in the mix as it should be, leaving the bass and heavier riffs a little toothless at times—”Chains” sets an example of how the low end should sound across the album. However, El Moono’s moxie more than makes up for their shortcomings; this is a debut, after all, and if they can come out the gate swinging like this, then who knows what a few years maturation and craft-honing will do for them.

The Waking Sun unfolded slowly for me, at first feeling a bit generic, with later listens revealing much more thought and diversity within the band’s sound; certainly it can comfortably sit alongside other debuts in the genre such as Left Fire and Statues. Dipping their toes into the more complex, raucous and atmospheric side of the genre, El Moono have solid foundations upon which they can build a grand career. Certainly, rumours of the death of the British prog-tinged alt-metal/post-hardcore continuum have been greatly exaggerated.

Recommended tracks: The Waking Sun, Screw Loose, Phantom
You may also like: East of the Wall, NevBorn, Giant Walker, Vower, Palm Reader, As Real
Final verdict: 7.5/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

Label: Lockjaw Records – Bandcamp | Facebook | Official Website

El Moono is:
– Zac Jackson (vocals, guitars)
– Chris Cartwright (drums)
– Harry Logan (bass)
– Jamie Haas (guitar, backing vocals)