24th August 2024

Review: “Maybe It All Finds Me Again” by Mona Borland

We know what you’re thinking. No Mona Borland isn’t the sister of Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland. They’re a four piece Deathcore collective hailing from Dallas Texas comprising vocalist Matthew Malik, guitarist Cody Casillas, bassist Joshua Pavlich and drummer Billy Gosse who first rose to prominence back in the summer of 2016 with debut EP “Sad Sounds From Space“. That was followed a year later by sophomore EP “Jade” before a run of stand alone singles, including fan favourite “Blood“, leading to a self titled EP in January 2022. This time out they have Black Oil Recordings (Steaksauce Moustache, The God Awful Truth, Hasta La Victoria Siempre) on their team who recorded, mixed and mastered “Maybe It All Finds Me Again“, so does it bring the renowned Texas heat?

A classic quote from 2010’s Shutter Island “I was to sink my teeth into your eye right now, would you be able to stop me before I blinded you?” ushers in the heavy end Metallic Hardcore abrasions of “Always Something“, the pulsating rhythms and stuccato riff breaks demonstrating Mosh pit friendly prowess and giving it instant appeal. A cathartic vent from Malik during which he uses multiple voices and vocal layers to cleans his mind of all ills, it’s an impressive starting point that makes it feel like the gun is loaded and cocked, ready to fire at any moment. A groovy little bass drive from Pavlich serves as an intro to the brutal “Switchblade“, during which Malik sounds unhinged, a man on the edge, losing his sanity as the seconds drain away. Gosse brings a powerhouse kit performance with some clever fills while a gargantuan breakdown passage with Slam inspired vocals leading into a haunting bit of lead guitar from Casillas is the icing on the metaphorical cake. Spine juddering angular guitars give “Locked It In” the feel of Emmure or Dealer, the Nu-Metalcore tinged Deathcore a slapping harder than your Mother after she found you at a strip club at 13. Pulsating grooves with more fleeting leads buried in the mix to being it home make this a stone cold winner. Rick Kanady of The Triceratops Experiment lends his throat to “Surgery“, the dual vocal attack meaning you get sharper shriller harsh moments contrasted against deeper darker death growls. This one has a full on eclectic solo that touches on the Avant-garde, a tasteful left field addition to the heavy hitting sound that gives it a little more spice. This may not be anything you haven’t heard before but it’s done so well that it feels like a guilty pleasure. [7.5/10]

Track Listing