JAPANESE QUARTET MONO UNVEIL THEIR 13TH STUDIO ALBUM, SNOWDROP
Photo by Carlos Cruz courtesy of KEXP
Japanese instrumental rock group MONO unveil their 13th studio album, Snowdrop, out now via Temporary Residence. To mark the release, MONO will return to Australia for the first time in four years, playing in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in April 2027.
Snowdrop is the band's first album produced by Brad Wood (Touché Amore, The Smashing Pumpkins), following the passing of their longtime collaborator and friend Steve Albini. On Snowdrop, the band channels a deep sense of gratitude to those precious people who have walked alongside them on their journey of life, incorporating the messages imbued in flowers given to those who have passed into the album's song titles.
The band shares, "Without exception, everyone will eventually depart this world and face the parting from their loved ones. Through this album, we wished to express our "eternal gratitude" to those precious people who walked alongside us on the journey of life. We believe this sentiment is the only thing capable of filling the void left in our hearts and easing the profound sorrow and pain of loss. Our hope is that this album serves as a source of light and hope for those who have lost someone dear." - MONO
When MONO recorded their previous album, OATH with Albini, in 2023, they never fathomed that it would be the final studio album they made together. Albini tragically died the following year, and that loss left an incalculable void in the lives of not just everyone who ever knew Steve, but everyone with an attachment to any of the thousands of records he helped bring into the world over the past four decades. He brought a clarity to the chaos and a selfless sense of service to art and artists that was unrivalled. On both a personal and practical level, MONO was left faced with profound grief and uncertainty. Albini had become a fundamental part of MONO’s unmistakable sound, and the thought of replacing him was daunting, to say the least. Enter: Brad Wood (Touché Amoré, The Smashing Pumpkins).
Chosen for both his familiarity with MONO’s creative and technical working process, as well as his decades-long friendship with Steve Albini, Brad Wood entered Albini’s storied Electrical Audio studios in September 2025 to record what would become Snowdrop. Once again working with Chicago-based conductor and orchestral musical director Chad McCullough, MONO enlisted a 10-piece orchestra as well as an 8-piece choir for the eight massive pieces that make up Snowdrop. With the band performing and Wood recording in the same hallowed space where most of MONO’s records had been made in their quarter-century history, the songs on Snowdrop carry an extra weight. Mixed by Wood at his Seagrass home studio in Los Angeles, the album is equally intimate and enveloping.
Where there could easily be a pall hanging over Snowdrop, there is instead an extraordinary air of gratitude. Rather than steep in heartache, there is a poignant appreciation for the resonance of life well-spent with a dear friend – and the yearning for what may come. Snowdrop is the sound of a band turning shock and sadness into hope and wonder – and finding renewed focus in the freedom of unknowing.
Originally formed in 1999, MONO’s unique approach blends orchestral arrangements with shoegaze guitar noise into memorable, emotional epics. Consistently held in high regard by their peers, their music has been praised by media, including NME proclaiming “This is music for the Gods.” Amongst their fans, they are revered as one of the best live experiences in rock.
Tracklist:
1. Snowdrop
2. Winter Daphne
3. Gerbera
4. Statice
5. Herdera
6. Shion
7. Bells of Ireland
8. Farewell to Spring
