Draft:El Moono

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El Moono is an English rock/metal band formed in 2016 in Brighton, England.[1] The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Zac Jackson, guitarist Jamie Haas & bassist Harry Logan[2] while they were studying at university. Drummer Chris Cartwright joined in 2019[3], completing the band's lineup.

The band combine alt-metal and post-hardcore influences, utilising unusual time signatures, guitar riffs and heavy screaming melodies in their music, along with shoegaze & post-rock inspired textures, within song structures reminiscent progressive rock.

In 2022, El Moono released mini-album Temple Corrupted[4], which is to be followed by the bands official full-length debut album The Waking Sun on 10th May 2024[5].

El Moono
OriginBrighton, England
Genres
Years active2016-present
LabelsLockjaw Records
Members
  • Zac Jackson
  • Jamie Haas
  • Harry Logan
  • Chris Cartwright
Websiteelmoono.com

History[edit]

Early years & Tides (2016-2019)[edit]

Zac Jackson and Jamie Haas met at BIMM University, Brighton in 2015, and the pair began to write music together. Zac’s friend from his hometown of St Albans, Hertfordshire, Harry Logan moved to the city in 2016 and joined the pair, writing their early singles with drummer Alfie Webber, a friend of Haas’ from their hometown of Alton, Hampshire.

The bands first EP Tides was released in 2018[6], alongside touring around the UK, radio play by Alex Baker at Kerrang! Radio & a feature in Kerrang! magazine[7].

Chris Cartwright joined the band in 2019 as their drummer.

El Moono were included on independent label Small Pond’s Emerging project[8], including their new track Thanks For Nothing, their first written with Cartwright. The song marks the first time the band worked with longtime producer Sam Coveney.

The band embarked on their first European tour in 2019. The year also marked more high-profile support slots with the likes of Black Peaks[9].

Temple Corrupted (2020-2022)[edit]

During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, the band started to demo new songs from home, sending files back and forth to each other. They entered The Old Chapel Studio in October 2020 with producer Sam Coveney,

The record attracted the attention of independent label Lockjaw Records, and the band signed to the label in early 2021[10].

The first single from Temple Corrupted, titled Forced to Smile, was released in July 2021[11], followed by White Gold (written about the George Floyd murder and the 2020 BLM movement)[12] and Final Execution[13]. The full 7 track album was released in February 2022 to critical acclaim[14].

The band embarked on an extensive tour of the UK, including slots at RADAR festival, [15] Arctangent Festival[16], and Burn it Down Festival[17].

The Waking Sun (2023-present)[edit]

Writing for The Waking Sun began in 2022, after renewed confidence following the bands appearance at Arctangent festival. The band spent the autumn demoing extensively, concentrating more on melody and more conventional song structures, while retaining their already developed heavy sound.

El Moono reconvened with producer Sam Coveney in January 2023 at Middle Farm Studios.

The band took a break from the studio to hit the road with The St Pierre Snake Invasion[18] on their Galore tour, and played shows with fellow Brightoners Intechnicolour and Black Peaks offshoot band Skin Failure, before heading back into the studio in their hometown of Brighton to record overdubs for the album, including a feature with Congratulations' Leah Stanhope.

The first single from The Waking Sun entitled Chains, a track the band had been playing live since 2018, was released in October 2023[19], alongside a music video directed by Kieran Gallop.

The album was officially announced alongside second single The First Man On Mars in January 2024 and saw extensive radio play on Kerrang! Radio, and features on the Kerrang! website[20].

The next single, The Charm, saw the band embrace a more traditional song structure and melodies.

Haunting was released in March 2024 with pre-orders for the album on vinyl and CD, alongside the announcement of an 11 date headline tour in support of the album in May/June 2024[21]. The band had further support from Metal Hammer magazine, citing Haunting as their top single of that week[22].

El Moono also shared news that The Waking Sun would be released in Dolby Atmos spacial 360 audio, mixed by Sam Coveney, and launched at a special listening event at Dolby HQ in London on 8th May 2024[23].

Members[edit]

Current members[edit]

  • Zac Jackson - Lead vocals, guitar (2016-present)
  • Jamie Haas - Guitars, backing vocals (2016-present)
  • Harry Logan - Bass guitar (2016-present)
  • Chris Cartwright - Drums (2019-present)

Discography[edit]

  • Temple Corrupted (2022)
  • The Waking Sun (2024)

References[edit]

  1. ^ robilaz (2022-02-07). "New Band of the Week: El Moono". GigRadar. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  2. ^ Reid, Sêan (2024-02-15). "Song of the Day: El Moono - 'The Charm'". Already Heard. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  3. ^ Edwards, Joe (2022-03-10). "IN CONVERSATION: Chris Cartwright of El Moono". Boolin Tunes. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  4. ^ Vallely, Adam (2022-02-01). "El Moono – Temple Corrupted | EP Review". Noizze UK | Live Music | Reviews | Interviews | Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  5. ^ Weaver, James (2024-01-16). "El Moono announce debut album 'The Waking Sun'". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  6. ^ "El Moono ■ Invaders Amplification". invadersamplification.com. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  7. ^ "Stream El Moono's New Single, Killing Time". Kerrang!. 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  8. ^ undercurrentbtn (2020-11-02). "Small Pond Launch 2021 'Emerging' Artist Development Project". Brighton Undercurrent. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  9. ^ "El Moono Released New Single & Video "Haunting"". THOUGHTS WORDS ACTION. 2024-03-08. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  10. ^ "El Moono sign to Lockjaw Records & release new single 'Forced To Smile' - Lockjaw Records". 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  11. ^ Clement, Keith (2021-10-21). "Alt-rock quartet El Moono release 'Forced to Smile' single remix with CLT DRP". Metalheads Forever Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  12. ^ Sorley, Jeff "the white drew carey" (2021-09-01). "EL MOONO release new single/video "White Gold"". TGEFM. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  13. ^ "El Moono、'Final Execution'のMVを公開" (in Japanese). 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  14. ^ Marshall, Will (2022-01-31). "EP REVIEW: Temple Corrupted - El Moono". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  15. ^ Uber, Team (2022-08-06). "RADAR Festival - Guildford, Casino - 30 July 2022". Über Röck. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  16. ^ Hough, Jason (2022-09-18). "ArcTanGent Friday - 2022 Review • TotalRock". TotalRock. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  17. ^ "We caught up with EL MOONO ahead of their performance at BURN IT DOWN FESTIVAL this weekend..." musomuso.com. 2021-09-10. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  18. ^ "The St. Pierre Snake Invasion are ready to play Brighton's Hope & Ruin". Brighton and Hove News. 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  19. ^ NEWSPOST (2023-11-05). "VIDEO NEWS: El Moono Release Video For New Single 'Chains'". Bring the Noise UK. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  20. ^ "Watch the video for El Moono's new single, The First Man On Mars". Kerrang!. 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  21. ^ Reid, Sêan (2024-03-11). "El Moono Share New Single ('Haunting')". Already Heard. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  22. ^ Merlin AldersladeContributions from Matt Mills (2024-03-08). "The 12 best new metal songs you need to hear this week". louder. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  23. ^ "El Moono - The Waking Sun - Lockjaw Records". 2024-03-02. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
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