A quickie review for a quickie release: Monument of Thieves is a newish band based in Orange County, CA featuring ex members of Throwdown, Eighteen Visions and a whole cavalcade of others. ‘Anyone But You’ is a second release that goes about showcasing the hardcore/metal style of the band.
Side A’s ‘This Marks the End’ comes across as a split between the brutality of Hatebreed and the more reserved impact of say, Waterdown. Side B’s title track is rooted more in the metal world, firming up the ground between Chimaira and In Flames. The two elements cross over but don’t really fit the ‘metalcore’ bracket tacked to bands nowadays.
As a whole there’s none of that pit-of-the-stomach clenching fury that marks a band out in the hardcore genre. I wouldn’t go so far as to say this is by-the-numbers stuff, but the band doesn’t really stand up hands in the air clenching a neon sign. If anything, this limited edition 7” is a stop gap release to catch the eye of collectors (/300 clear with black, anyone?), and fans of those previous bands, whilst the new collective goes about putting together a trademark sound and a longer release. That’s when judgement can be passed.
Alex