There’s a period during the last three weeks of the year that is a veritable black hole for music releases (and pretty much any kind of entertainment releases, be it movies or books) and anything that comes out in that window of time gets lost in the Holidays/year-end shuffle. I feel that this is what happened to this remarkable debut album titled Some Like It Heavy from Calgary, Alberta trio Bloody Monroe. I love how the band references Marilyn Monroe both in their band name (and album cover art) as well as in their album titles. Their first EP released in 2019 was called How to Bury a Billionaire, a word-play on the Monroe movie “How to Marry a Millionaire”, and now their full-length album, a play-on-words of what is probably Marilyn’s most iconic role in “Some Like It Hot.” I hope they continue using that pattern of Marilyn Monroe movie titles as album titles.
On to the music. Some Like It Heavy is a blend of hard rock and heavy metal with a sprinkle of alternative. It’s got old school values that will make fans of ‘80s and ‘90s metal appreciate this record. “I Cast a Shadow” pulls you right in with its infectious opening riff. “Utero Manifest” and “Left of Sin” follow, two good tracks with more of an alternative flavour showcasing the band’s talent for songwriting. “Only You” gets a vote for my favourite song on the album. It’s the closest thing to a rock ballad I’ve heard in quite a while and I love it. It features a nice acoustic guitar intro, with accompanying strings and piano. “Over Again” is a track that displays singer/guitarist Mike Green’s guitar skills. “Why So Serious”, with a nod to Batman’s Joker, is one of the highlights of the record with its super catchy chorus. “They Live”, another reference to a movie title, this time of John Carpenter’s socially-relevant film, is a well-crafted song, but one that runs a little long in the end. “Chosen One” is a solid song with a barrage of great guitar licks. I’m torn about the next song, “People of Today”, as it’s one of the highlights of the album with timely lyrics and a terrific guitar solo, but in similar fashion as “They Live”, its lengthy runtime makes it lose some of its momentum in my opinion. Song number 10 closes the album out on a high note, “Army of Two”, a head-bobbing tune with another superb guitar solo where Mike’s vocal style sounds reminiscent of Metallica’s James Hetfield at times.
As a proud Canadian, I’m always thrilled to discover talented new Canuck bands. Bloody Monroe is definitely a band to keep an eye on. Their debut full-length record is a solid and meticulous effort that is sure to find legions of fans. Give Some Like It Heavy a spin and you’re bound to become an admirer of this Bloody Monroe. You can pick up the album in digital formats free of charge (for now) at their official Website.
Bloody Monroe’s Website: https://www.bloodymonroe.com/
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