Dissecting Serial Killers With MICK BARR From MONOLIYTH

Melbourne old school death metal machine Monoliyth have been
steadily going about their craft for just over 25 years, grinding
away on the circuit with a mission to do no more than offer a sonic
distraction to the world around them.
It is an often thankless task - faced by all bands - but Monoliyth
have found their niche, originally starting life as more of a
thrash metal band before finding their home in the nastier side of
metal.
Their recent release, He Who Kills, is a typical blast of
aggression for Monoliyth, but this time there is a storyline to go
with the carnage. A storyline that could very well be the visual
accompaniment to Monoliyth's musical psyche. Each song on the album
tells a tale of death and destruction through the eyes of a serial
killer, with each tune showcasing a different protagonist and the
evil that lurks within. It is a different, engaging, and highly
confronting deviation from the norm, and one HEAVY wants to explore
further when we speak to guitarist and founding member Mick
Barr.
"Well, it wasn't anything serious," Barr replied when we asked
where the idea came from. "Everything on YouTube or the old horror
movies and stuff is always based on serial killers. And we thought
maybe we can do something, looking through the eyes of the actual
serial killers themselves and how they might perceive their
surroundings or their ideology on why they do what they do. It's to
do with the whole concept of how they might operate collectively.
Am I a fan of serial killers? Absolutely not. I've seen plenty of
docos on these people, and you can't make it up. You can't believe
half the stuff they talk about."
In the full interview, Mick discussed the album's musical
direction, blending old school death metal with modern techniques,
and highlighted the singles The Killing Floor, He Who Kills, and
Excised Unborn as representations of their diverse sound. The
album's concept, influenced by horror movies and online content,
explores the perspective of a serial killer with a tongue-in-cheek
tone, although Mick emphasised that the graphic material is not
meant to be taken seriously.
He reflected on the challenges of standing out in the competitive
Australian music scene, while expressing satisfaction with the
band's international reception, particularly in Europe. Upcoming
performances include an album launch and participation in Brute
Fest, with the album available for streaming and on vinyl,
alongside plans for new material and more.


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