Review: “The Carcass Choir” by Monachopsis

Celebrating the beginning of a new era after a decade of destruction Leicester Technical Melodic Death Metal act Monachopsis have unveiled their third EP “The Carcass Choir” that is the culmination of years of facing fears and adversities and crushing them one by one. Mixed and mastered by Nik Palivos at Haunting Studios (Elysian, Rohan, Eonian) and adorned by magnificent artwork from Mohammed Hoirul (Flesh Remains, Recently Vacated Graves: True Zombie Metal), the five song collection is their first new material since the departure of drummer Ezra Brown after a seven year sentence in the group. Now a four piece, comprising Richard Allsopp (Guitars, Vocals, Piano, Orchestral and Drum Programming), Mihir Miyangar (Vocals), William Bartholomew (Bass) and Kieran Hickman (Guitars) the beast rears its ugly head once more…

The record begins with a pair of brand new songs, the title track “The Carcass Choir” starting the shovel headed kill machine with a brutal groove laden riff and some sinister leads. Miyangar’s vocals remain as savage as ever, dry and raspy as if the winds of plague are emanating from his throat. Building the tension Allsopp adds some melodic piano in the mid section which then bursts into soaring lead guitars before transcending into a scorching solo. A powerful crescendo is reached with the kind of grand finale that you might expect from a band like Obscura in majestic jaw dropping fashion. After you pick yourself up off the floor “Letters From the Doomsday Vault” begins with twenty seconds or so of haunting synths before changing gear and putting the pedal to the metal. Galloping drums and electrifying riffs flow like blood from the veins before the vocals and orchestrations begin, each element adding depth and texture to make the track as rich and full bodied as a dark roast coffee. As menacing and sinister as a low budget horror movie with some eerie nuances, this one is an absolute belter and while it tells a tale referring to Svalbard, it’s lyrically open enough that you can make it your own.

Multi instrumentalist Richard Allsopp comments: “There’s a massive facility on the remote island of Svalbard that preserves seeds from all around the world in gene banks to provide security for the world’s food supply in case of war, disease, natural disaster or apocalyptic hellfire, hence the nickname ‘The Doomsday Vault’. I find the whole concept of being stashed away from the rest of humanity with the potential to outlive the apocalypse fascinating and eerie. One day the image of a security guard at the facility writing postcards home to his family popped into my head and the lyrics for this track are what came out of that particular venture.”

A cover of the Darkest Hour classic “Love as a Weapon” is actually something of a nostalgic look back at the bands rich past because its the first song Monachopsis ever played live. Their rendition is distinctively Melodic Death Metal with Allsopp adding some clean vocal parts to bolster Miyangar’s harsh undertakings. The piano adds a melancholic and yet warm element, the lead guitars being equally majestic and in all honesty this is as good a rendition of the song as you’ll find anywhere. The final two tracks are re-recordings of songs which originally appeared on the half an hour of power that was 2018 “From Mind To Eye“, brought into the here and now with tighter performances, modern production and improved mixing and mastering. “Scathed by Branches of Malice” is masterful, the staccato riff breaks and flamboyant leads flowing like a river to the sea where they are met by a sublime extended solo. This is arguably the only time on the record that you can tell the drums are programmed with a couple of distinctively flat cymbal hits however, it is a means to an end and doesn’t take away from the overall quality of the this rendition. “The God Project” is equally as incredible, extended instrumentals allowing the musicianship to shine with intricate soloing of the highest order, the savage vocals being arguably the single heaviest element. Again, the embellishments in keys and orchestrations are perfectly weighted so as to enhance and not overpower and so all Monachopsis need to do is find a drummer of flesh and bone to perform these songs live [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. The Carcass Choir
2. Letters From the Doomsday Vault
3. Love as a Weapon (Darkest Hour cover)
4. Scathed by Branches of Malice (2025)
5. The God Project (2025)

“The Carcass Choir” by Monachopsis is out 21st November 2025 and is available over at bandcamp