Monolord Push Beyond Doom on Neverending: “You Can Call It Whatever”
After five years, Monolord are back, but not in the way some fans might expect.
For Esben Willems, the journey to Neverending wasn’t smooth or glamorous. In fact, it rarely is.
“Recording an album is always… I don’t even know the right word. It’s difficult, sometimes even painful. It’s a bit of a trial, and it’s not always enjoyable. But at the same time, it’s amazing. It’s a really weird process.”
That tension between struggle and reward defines the band’s creative process. It is a cycle of highs and lows, doubt and clarity, something Willems says happens every time they step into the studio.
Even with that, this time felt different.
“That was the first time I didn’t feel that pressure… it just felt like home from the first minute.”
Swedish trio Monolord have built a reputation for their heavy, slow-burning sound over the past decade. Formed in Gothenburg, the band consists of Thomas V Jäger, Mika Häkki, and Esben Willems. Known for blending crushing riffs with a melancholic atmosphere, Monolord have carved out a space that goes beyond strict genre definitions.
After five years, Monolord return with Neverending, set for release May 29, 2026, via Relapse Records. The eight track album was recorded with Sylvia Massy, and the first single, You Bastard, is already out now with a music video, offering an early look at the record.
For Neverending, Monolord teamed up with Sylvia Massy, a legendary producer known for her work with bands like Tool and System of a Down, and the experience stood apart from anything they had done before.
Instead of the usual tension that comes with recording, the process felt open, experimental, and even enjoyable.
Massy’s approach also pushed the band into unexpected territory, encouraging creative risks in the moment.
“She’d come in like, ‘Let’s record the bass through a drill and see what happens.’ And we did… and it was amazing.”
It is that kind of spontaneity that helped shape the sound of Neverending, giving the album a sense of exploration that pushes beyond anything the band has done before.
Monolord have long been associated with doom metal, especially following early tracks like Empress Rising. But according to Willems, that label was never something the band held onto.
“We’ve never really cared about what people call us… doom was just something that got slapped on from the first album.”
Over time, the band has continued to evolve, even if that means pushing against expectations.
“We’ve been pissing people off since the third album… ‘That’s not doom.’ Okay, this is what we sound like.”
When it comes to describing Neverending, Willems keeps it simple.
“Heavy, slow… and very melancholic.”
Full interview with Esben Willems of Monolord
While fans still connect deeply with earlier material, Willems sees Monolord’s discography as a continuous journey.
“If you listen to all the albums… it’s going to sound like a journey.”
From staples like Empress Rising to tracks like Cursing the One, which remains a personal favorite of mine, Monolord’s sound has always carried a distinct identity, even as it evolves.
“If someone just found Empress Rising and loved that sound… this might feel like too big of a disconnect.”
Like any cohesive record, Neverending was built to work as a complete experience.
That approach carries through the entire album, including a standout moment on the closing track.
Willems pointed to the title track, It’s Neverending, which features a guest vocal from Jörgen Sandström, something new for the band.
“It’s kind of new for us to have a guest… and at the same time it sounds so much like Monolord. There’s something that’s peak Monolord in that song for me.”
The result is a track that pushes their sound forward while still staying true to what defines them.
Even once recorded, the songs will continue to evolve.
“When you play a song 50, 60, 100 times… it becomes more itself.”
Live performance reshapes the music over time, giving each track a new life beyond the studio version.
Tracklist for Neverending:
Iodine
You Bastard
Inside A Collider
Crystal Bridge
Oozing Wound
The Masque
Invisible
It’s Neverending (feat. Jörgen Sandström)
Want to hear the full conversation with Esben Willems?
Watch the full interview now.
Neverending drops May 29, 2026, via Relapse Records, with Monolord heading out on tour shortly after.
Call it doom or call it something else. It does not really matter.
“You can call it whatever. I really don’t care.”
For me, it’s just good music.
- Devious Dayna
This Day In Metal
