Some bands spend their entire careers trying to find their sound. Monolord found theirs years ago. The real challenge was always going to be what came next.
With "Neverending", the Swedish doom powerhouse proves that evolution doesn’t have to mean abandoning your roots. Instead, Monolord have done something far more impressive: they've refined, expanded, and strengthened every aspect of their identity while remaining unmistakably themselves.
Since "Empress Rising", the trio has built one of the most consistent discographies in modern doom. From the crushing weight of "Vænir" to the emotional depth of "No Comfort" and the melodic leanings of "Your Time To Shine", every album felt like another step forward. "Neverending" might just be the moment where all those elements finally come together.
The biggest surprise here is how immediate the album feels. Monolord have always excelled at sprawling, hypnotic compositions, but this time many songs hit harder and faster without sacrificing atmosphere. Opener "Iodine" sets the tone perfectly, balancing massive riffs with an almost cinematic sense of tension. Then comes "You Bastard", arguably one of the strongest songs the band has ever written. The riff is absolutely infectious, the chorus sticks immediately, and the emotional weight behind the lyrics gives the track real substance beneath its crushing exterior.
The influence of producer Sylvia Massy is impossible to miss. The album sounds huge. Every instrument has room to breathe while still contributing to a wall of sound that feels warm, organic, and incredibly heavy. Thomas Jäger's guitar tone remains one of the finest in the genre, while Mika Häkki's bass adds an almost physical presence to the mix. Esben Willems' drumming is as precise and powerful as ever, giving every groove maximum impact.
Tracks like "Crystal Bridge", "The Masque", and "Invisible" showcase a band willing to push beyond traditional doom structures. There’s more melody, more dynamics, and more emotional nuance than ever before. Yet when Monolord decide to fully embrace their slow-burning side on "Oozing Wound", they remind everyone why they became one of doom's most respected names in the first place.
The album's emotional climax arrives with "It's Neverending". Featuring guest vocals from Jörgen Sandström, the track introduces subtle death-doom elements while delivering one of the most haunting and beautiful endings in the band's catalog. It's bold, unexpected, and completely works.
What makes "Neverending" so special isn't that Monolord reinvent themselves. It's that they sound more confident, focused, and inspired than ever before. The riffs are bigger, the songwriting sharper, and the emotional core deeper. It feels like the natural next chapter for a band that has been quietly perfecting its craft for over a decade.
For longtime fans, "Neverending" is everything you love about Monolord, only elevated. For newcomers, it's the perfect entry point into one of modern doom's most essential bands.
Heavy, emotional, beautifully produced, and packed with unforgettable songs, "Neverending" isn't just another great Monolord album — it feels like a defining one. A record that honors the past while pointing confidently toward the future. And that's exactly what great doom should do.
-Helge Neumann
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