Review by Carl on July 7, 2022.

This platter combines both EP's by Belgian/Japanese collaboration Monnier, and boy, is this a blast! The combined forces of Jasper Swerts (of crust/grinders Days Of Desolation and Arrogänt) and vocalist Makiko of grindcore band Flagitious Idiosyncrasy In The Dilapidation (try saying that three times fast!) deliver a seething, raging, hacking and scorching dose of total grindcore fury that will leave you battered and bruised.

Musically Monnier are situated somewhere between early Nasum and Rotten Sound without the Swedeath guitar tone. All instrumentation is handled by Jasper, and he certainly delivers the goods in fashion. The songs alternate between fast blasting insanity, intense enough to remove all that crud that has piled up through the years out of your ears, and slower stomping mid tempo parts. His guitar playing is a good deal above par, with the inventive riffing elevating the music above a good deal of their grinding brethren. Sometimes a dissonant tone sneaks into the abrasive wall of sound, which ups the intensity factor even more, creating a truly savage, yet memorable listening experience. The awesome music is completed by a truly devastating contribution by Makiko, who belts out her lyrics in a varied manner. From gruff bellowing to ear-shredding screams, she delivers the goods without flaw. The sober yet powerful production keeps the music to the point, making sure the intensity levels stay turned up to eleven, and there is no way anyone into death metal-flecked grindcore could be let down by this barbaric concoction.

This is a release I can wholeheartedly recommend to all into extreme guitar-driven music. The truly excellent execution of the music, the unrelenting fury of the whole and the awesome artwork adorning this release all help creating one of the best grindcore releases I have seen and heard in a long while. It is just that damn good.

Recently I saw a sticker somewhere that said "grindcore is love". It certainly is, especially if it's grindcore the way Monnier delivers it.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Review by Alex Grindor on March 30, 2021.

International duo Monnier is set to release their self titled compilation in April giving their fans a great chance to acquire their releases in one package. And you better do.

Monnier comprises 2 EPs, released in 2018 & 2020, and yet with these 2 small works the duo has showcased an amazing display of pure, frenzied grindcore. No second is wasted on introducing you to their sonic barrage, and while all tracks have a short duration (longest track being around 2:30 minutes) they are straight to the point in their work. Jasper's performance is inhuman, as he heaptly handles all instruments here. Bass, guitars, drums all are handled by him with pin-point precision and technicality reminiscent of Pig Destroyer's work and with some grooves tossed here and there as well. No instrument overshadows the other, as the balance in sound gives room for everything to shine here.

Makiko, the other half of the project and member of Flagitious Idiosyncrasy In The Dilapidation (man, what a name), handles all vocals and what a performance we get here. Her voice is the perfect addition to Jasper's instrumentation. With inhuman high shrieks and low, guttural growls delivered in good measure, changing between these two vocal styles as the song needs it. Additionally, she often does some spoken passages in a few tracks (mostly the ones comprising the first EP), but these are brief moments of peace before everything is torn to shreds again by her vocals.

If you are a fan of Discordance Axis, Insect Warfare, Mortalized, Nasum, Noisear, Pig Destroyer and similar bands, then this is a must-have for you. It might be a bit short (16 tracks nearing 27 minutes) but it is totally worth the listen. A complete beast of a release that must not be overlooked.

Rating: 9.3 out of 10