Blindboss is an experimental one-man act from Orange County, California. His shows have been known to include pre-recorded bass and drums while he plays guitar or synthesizers and sings. All this while projecting images of himself on a screen behind him. Sure, it might seem like a lot of work, but it’s really no harder than getting an entire band to show up for rehearsal or a gig.
So how does it come across when an act that is predicated on live performance goes into the studio to record an album? Blindboss (aka Max Gomez) says of Monster that it is, “rooted in punk and inspired by the future.”
There is definitely a punk energy right from the beginning of this five-song EP. And you can say that it’s punk in that Blindboss isn’t trying to fit into any particular mold. But there are also some elements of punk – particularly hardcore in songs like “Will’s Birthday” and “Whale Fall”. In both of these songs, the lyrics are delivered with furious volume and tempo. It’s pretty easy to imagine a circle pit happening during these two songs. In addition to the punk sounds, between the keyboards and the beats, you hear some pretty distinct industrial influence.
“Fake Internet Points” is a song that stands out. At the beginning of the song are the lyrics sung in a falsetto – “Once we got ‘em, we don’t let ‘em get away” – the song is a statement about how we live our lives online as if we’re trying to win points in some contest. There is a discussion to be had about the theme of this song. And wouldn’t that be nice? A discussion.
With only five songs, this EP is over before you know it. But in a short time, Blindboss makes his point and delivers strong messages with melodies that are made for a secret show in a warehouse.
