Lochness Monster
Miami, Florida, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2015 | SELF
Music
Press
The band have already dropped a pair of digital singles, “Anchors Gone” on Bandcamp and a lyric video for “Pendulum” via YouTube. The first kicks off with layers of driving, shimmering guitars and bass with Serafini’s pounding drums. It’s a dynamic track that chugs along, pausing for a few intermittent moments to peel back musical layers revealing the tight musicianship in Lochness Monster before returning to its driving layers of hooks.
Morello projects his voice expertly above the harmonious churn of guitars, bass, and drums, demonstrating active, evocative lyrics during the chorus, “One day they'll be turned over/Hearts won't be welded shut/Find the axe to break them open/Now that your anchor's gone.”
“Pendulum,” on the other hand, builds to big choruses from the pluck of a guitar and the tap on the rim of a drum with Morello coolly setting up a story about the terrors of space flight: “Cold sweat running down my face/Mission control has lost its trace.” The song builds on waves of ominous keyboards, which are swept away by crunching guitars and vibrant drum work.
This is a taste of the range of artistry that can be found on the band’s debut full length, Fables, which will be released in January 12, 2017. It was recorded is St. Cloud, Florida at the home studio of James Paul Wisner, a producer of several multi-gold albums, including such influential records like Dashboard Confessional’s The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most and Further Seems Forever’s The Moon is Down.
Morello describes a casual but meticulously controlled set up at Wisner’s house, with bedrooms acting as isolated studios. “I doubt a less experienced producer with the most expensive equipment and studio in the world could have gotten the same result as James did from this house,” says the singer.
Coursing with the ache of emo to the grandeur of progressive rock, Wisner brought out the album’s meticulous music via layers of bombast and delicate moments of intimacy. You can hear it in the album’s title track, a bouncy cut that’s bright yet still heavy with sophisticated details, from the subtle high-pitched hum harmonizing with Shaner’s intricate guitar licks to the warm echo of the guitar’s strings.
“Pixie Cut” starts as a cute, perky track and builds toward a pair of soaring, harmonizing guitar parts. “Salem” is another lush track featuring ripping guitar lines coated atop each that build to grand gestures, like tidal waves crashing upon the cliffs. Fables overflows with grand sounds and intricate moments, such as the actual sounds of waves lapping at a shoreline on “Nocturnes” that gives way to brilliant, crystalline guitar work and the rhythmic clack of Serafini’s kit. - Hans Morgenstern
Discography
Anchors Gone (Single) - Released on 10/21/16 https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/anchors-gone-single/1163321313
Fables (LP) - Released on 1/12/17 https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/fables/1158939757
Calling Out (Single) - Release on 1/11/19 https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/calling-out-single/1448114861
Photos
Bio
Lochness Monster is a Miami-based band that creates a melodic and unique blend of rock music. With an eclectic style and diverse musical tastes, Bruce Donaldson (Singer), Justin Shaner (Guitar), Brad Eavenson (Bass), and Rene Rivera (Drums) incorporate elements of rock, shoegaze, punk, and alternative metal. Each member drives a certain pairing of uniqueness to round out their sound beginning with Shaner’sdynamic and distinctive guitar melodies, Donaldson’s classically trained vocal range exceeding 4 octaves, Rivera’s drumming precision and powerful stance behind the kit, and Eavenson’s rock and blue’s styling on the bass.
Justin formed Lochness Monster in 2015 with a different lineup and in 2016 the debut album, Fables was released. The album was recorded, mixed, produced by James Paul Wisner at Wisner Productions in St. Cloud, FL with mastering by Andy VanDette at Engine Room Audio in New York, NY. The 11-track record incorporates fictional stories that tend to be a bit abstract at times and open to interpretation. Off the album came singles, “Anchors Gone,” “Pendulum,” and “Pixie Cut,” which featured Kyra Kennaugh, a professional dancer, for their music video to give a whole new look and take on the very poppy but punk infused song. Hans Morgenstern with Indie Ethos had this to say about the record, “Coursing with the ache of emo to the grandeur of progressive rock, Wisner brought out the album’s meticulous music via layers of bombast and delicate moments of intimacy. You can hear it in the album’s title track, a bouncy cut that’s bright yet still heavy with sophisticated details, from the subtle high-pitched hum harmonizing with Shaner’s intricate guitar licks to the warm echo of the guitar’s strings.”
Fables expanded Lochness Monster’s reach and received critical acclaim from fans and radio markets. The record peaked at #16 on the CMJ (College Media Journal) charts with several tracks from the album being played on over 120 radio stations across the US. Following the release of Fables, Shaner finalized the new lineup, including the switch to Bruce Donaldson as the new vocalist.
In 2018, the band re-entered the studio with Wisner to work on their yet-to-be released self-titled EP. On the upcoming EP, Lochness Monster, want to convey a more personal story behind their music filled with struggles and reoccuring themes of hope and redemption. Shaner elaborates, “I think if people are relating and connecting to the music then we are being sincere making it, if it’s able to uplift people then even better, but I think our new music takes some people for a ride through different emotions and different experiences that they may have had, I’d also say that musically the new songs are more rock driven with a bit of a heavier sound.” The EP features, “Calling Out,” a song about holding onto love and finding forgiveness. Its lyrics are about recognizing the trials and tribulations faced in a relationship of love and seeking redemption in each other. Shortly before the release of “Calling Out” the band was awarded Best Rock Band at the 2019 Oski Awards. The band recently played the 2019 Sunfest in West Palm Beach, FL opening for One Republic, Flogging Molly, and Hawthorne Heights and will be very active with shows and festivals throughout the rest of the year.
Fans can be on the lookout for more new music coming soon!
Band Members
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