This time last year, Monuments had just released their latest album, In Stasis, which saw them team up with Mick Gordon, who is perhaps best known for composing and engineering the famous DOOM soundtrack. Today, the release of “Nefarious” sees the British progressive metalcore outfit in collaboration with another unexpected figure in the form of Twitch Streamer and YouTuber Charlie White. White, better known by the aliases MoistCr1TiKaL and Penguinz0, has over the past couple of years expanded into a number of online industries, including the founding of an eSports team and the release of a rock album in 2021 under the name The Gentle Men. The YouTube star clearly has an eye for talent and opportunity, and this somewhat surprising collaboration is no exception.
“Nefarious” is in support of the latest volume of the content creator’s graphic novel, GODSLAP, which he described in 2021 as the “biggest thing [he] had ever done.” In Stasis already possessed a grand and fantastical quality, and Monuments hone in on that soundscape with this most recent release, matching the gritty undertone of the series’ ‘seedy underbelly.’ Yet it’s playful, with vocalist Andy Cizek delivering a performance oozing with swagger. He navigates from the aforementioned charismatic singing to unhinged uncleans, neatly encapsulating the tone of Cr1TiKaL and GODSLAP to this point. Mixed by George Lever (Sleep Token, Loathe), “Nefarious” is every bit as frenetic, instrumentally complex, and dynamic as the best work off of In Stasis, with the source material leaving a notable mark on the track’s lyricism. The animated music video/opening theme can be found below.
“Nefarious” is undoubtedly a successful collaboration, and appears set to be a standalone track. Fans of GODSLAP and Monuments alike will surely be hoping it is not the last such crossover between heavy music and Cr1TiKaL‘s comic project. Perhaps a future collaboration will see him contributing vocals, as he experimented with capably on The Gentle Men‘s The Evolution of Tears. Heavy music over the last decade as seen a marked increase in cross-media incorporation, defining the soundtracks of games (DOOM, Death Stranding) and anime (Attack on Titan, Chainsaw Man). This is a two-way street, with games and anime likewise inspiring music from the likes of Veil Of Maya, Bring Me The Horizon, and Desolate. Partnerships such as “Nefarious” seem set to become more frequent, and that is a good thing for all involved.
The third issue of GODSLAP is available now with three different cover variants, and you can purchase it here.