Hamilton, ON quartet Crux of Aux, featuring former members of Cursed and Shallow North Dakota, have taken a more off the grid approach for the past decade or so, as far as their online presence goes, but now is the time for them to finally receive the recognition they deserve. Their debut full-length, Mona, is an extremely raw and distorted amalgamation of groove-laden sludge, chaotic grind and metallic heaviness.
"Purgatory Cop" starts the release off on a powerful note, with crushing riffs and distressed, angst-filled vocals, while "Sewer Ghost" features a stoner rock vibe. Highlight "Body of Shale" contains some of the release's most intense, heavy grooves and captures the band's extreme aggression. Tracks like "Splat Splat" and "Lithomancy" start off fast and caustic before transitioning to slow and gritty, noise-ridden rhythms. Closer "Tears From Mona" is a gloomy and bleak dirge, with ominous tones that leave a lasting impression.
Vicious and dissonant throughout, Mona's eight tracks of exceptionally well-executed organized chaos are a sonic nod to the members' previous legendary works and a showcase for the excellence Crux of Aux have long been capable of themselves.
(No Why Records)"Purgatory Cop" starts the release off on a powerful note, with crushing riffs and distressed, angst-filled vocals, while "Sewer Ghost" features a stoner rock vibe. Highlight "Body of Shale" contains some of the release's most intense, heavy grooves and captures the band's extreme aggression. Tracks like "Splat Splat" and "Lithomancy" start off fast and caustic before transitioning to slow and gritty, noise-ridden rhythms. Closer "Tears From Mona" is a gloomy and bleak dirge, with ominous tones that leave a lasting impression.
Vicious and dissonant throughout, Mona's eight tracks of exceptionally well-executed organized chaos are a sonic nod to the members' previous legendary works and a showcase for the excellence Crux of Aux have long been capable of themselves.
