RVA Metal! Monarch reigns supreme
Stemmed from bands such as The Sparrow, Fontaine, Crystal Lake, Malachite and Rocket Queen, comes Monarch, a four-piece metal band from our city of Richmond,Va.
Formed in 2003, Monarch has three original members, Gabe Beverly (guitar), Jason Taylor (bass) and Joel Hollister (drums), having parted ways with their original vocalist, Sean Watts, and enlisting Dan Mills in winter of that same year.
Stemmed from bands such as The Sparrow, Fontaine, Crystal Lake, Malachite and Rocket Queen, comes Monarch, a four-piece metal band from our city of Richmond,Va.
Formed in 2003, Monarch has three original members, Gabe Beverly (guitar), Jason Taylor (bass) and Joel Hollister (drums), having parted ways with their original vocalist, Sean Watts, and enlisting Dan Mills in winter of that same year.
Their melodic post-core metal pays tribute to bands like Carcass and Converge, while boasting an original sound. The band has a distinct Richmond feel, featuring the breakdowns and dance-parts that Richmond has come to expect from one of their own.
But don’t expect to hear the same-old sound, Through their mix of metal and hardcore, intense lyrics and musical talent, these guys push the boundaries of traditional “pit” music. Not only providing the opportunity to “wreak havoc,” Monarch offers a strong lyrical catalyst reinforced by heavy rhythms, screaming melodies and driving bass-lines.
Monarch recently released their EP “Tragedy Holds the Hand of Hope” on popfaction records. Recorded by the band themselves at bassist Jason Taylor’s music store, the EP features six songs, including “Lipstick” and “Send My Regrets.”
Popfaction has represented such talent as Apocalypse Pow!, VCR and the Can Utility.
To support the release of this EP, Monarch began touring with Blacksburg’s Accursed Dawn on Aug. 27. If you can’t make Monarch’s out of town shows, be at the Nanci Raygun on Aug. 31 at 10 p.m. The lineup will feature not only Monarch and Accursed Dawn but also Malachite and Arsis.
