More Than I Own – Monocene (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

Rock music has always been a broad sonic realm, able to take in everything from the ornate to the outrageous, the meticulous to the mindless, the big and the clever. And within these so-attractive opposites, there is enough room for the genre to keep remixing its sonic colors, refreshing itself, reinventing the form, and moving with the times. Something very apparent in monocene’s blend of tradition and forward-thinking creativity.

More Than I Own is an album that showcases monocene’s ability to balance alternative rock inventiveness with a clear understanding of classic rock, which serves as the sonic mothership of the whole sound. From the opening moments of “Friction,” they operate at the cutting edge of adventurous rock creativity without ever abandoning the fundamentals — big riffs, driving basslines, muscular backbeats, and a deft-footed walk between sonic weight and musical immediacy.

The title track expands this dexterous dance into something both expansive and volatile, a rollercoaster ride between staccato riffs and grinding, gritty grooves, explosive peaks, and calmer, reflective passages. The collision, complementing, and constructive chaos bring a fantastic dynamic shape to the song. It is a song built on contrasts, but held together by the band’s instinctive sense of momentum and atmosphere.

“My Safe Place” shows the group’s more understated side, leaning into cleverly spun, indie-infused balladry and a reflective, heartfelt touch that proves Monocene can be just as intriguing when dialing back the intensity. Volume and velocity might be the things that much rock music is built on, but there are more delicate sides to the coin. This is one of them.

Sitting at the album’s sonic pinnacle, at least in terms of weight and onslaught, “Genau Wie Ich” edges somehow toward metal territory, a sonic beast replete with sharp edges, intricate arrangements, and relentless force, its impact further heightened by its release in the band’s native German.

And as the album heads to the finishing line, “Timeless” blends grunge-inspired heaviness with more sophisticated sonic architecture, reinforcing the sense that monocene is a band equally interested in power, texture, and emotional depth.

Bands no longer have to choose a camp; sub-genres and tribal allegiances are things of the past. Why be merely metal or classic or alternative or grunge when you can wander freely across the musical map, infuse the best of everything those places have to offer, and come up with a resulting mix that sounds unique?

And if you want to know what such an approach might sound like, just give More Than I Own a few more spins.