Portuguese metal act Brain for the Masses are premiering the music video for their track “Bleak”, the first single out of their independent debut “Monachopsis”, released November 23rd 2022 in physical and digital formats.
The opening track of the record, “Bleak” is a relentless, fast tempo song with brutal guitar riffs, atmospheric keyboards and wailing screams. An aggressive and claustrophobic track about emotional malaise and sorrow that represents the heavier side of Brain for the Masses into what is arguably the darkest song in “Monachopsis”. The band comments on the video:
“Laid upon you is the first glance at what we are about to set free. A shout, a loud one at that, from the depths of the unspoken. A suppressed silence that, once approached, presented nothing but noise.”
Marking the band’s first full length, “Monachopsis” is composed of five lengthy tracks, each with their own musical identities, shining light on Brain for the Masses´s versatility. Dissimilar songs that feature distinct atmospheres, themes and emotions, together with a tight production and a fitting performance that highlights each song’s qualities. A record that explores the various facets and perspectives of the human condition in all its intricacies.
Taken from the etymological work of John Koening, the neologism that shares its name with the debut was created by John Koening in an attempt to define feelings without a proper descriptive term. “Monachopsis” is “the subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place… a fitting title that reflects on the increasing feeling of oneness that perpetuates in the dystopian times we live in. A signature of the modern times, lurking in the deafening silence that is engulfing us. An ominous presence camouflaged by the distractions of modern day life.
 |
1. Bleak 2. Retribution 3. Seclusion 4. To Be Alike 5. Stay Afloat |
It’s hard to initiate a conversation without addressing the covid-19 pandemic and indeed the band felt its impact in the most unpredictable way. Feeling it was time for a worthy release, the band stepped away from the spotlights to work on what would become “Monachopsis”. After finishing pre-production Brain for the Masses hit the studio in October of 2019, set to release the record on the next decade. The next decade came and with it whispers of a new virus that was terrorizing the east. We all know what happened next and a few days after Brain for the Masses finished recordings of their debut, the world went into lockdown and suddenly we were amidst a pandemic. In the face of an uncertain future the band decided to postpone the release of their debut to an even more uncertain date. “We felt it was too risky”, the band comments:
“If it wasn’t our first album maybe we would have tried, but nobody knew what was going to happen, it just felt like a shot in the dark.”
Two years have since passed and the pandemic didn´t went away entirely but people seem to be moving on and a certain sense of normality has returned. After a global event that surely will not be forgotten, “Monachopsis” was finally released on November 23 2022.
Brain for the Masses are a Metal band from Portugal, characterized by a diverse and versatile sound. Since their first gigs in 2016, the intense mix of contrasts in their songs has gathered strong reactions from concert goers. Not bound by genre definitions, the five piece band challenge themselves with each composition, expanding their expressive possibilities and bringing character into their creations. From violent guitars to smooth acoustic riffs, their will to explore different musical contexts results in an explosion of nuances and textures that Brain for the Masses use to birth life into their sound.
Photo: João Fitas
