14. August 2025
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Media Review

Mono Inc. – Darkness

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Mono Inc. - Darkness

Mono Inc. - Darkness
4.6

Rating

 4.6/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Dark rock with a fine touch
  • Lovely variety of songs
  • Smart arrangements

The German dark rockers Mono Inc. feel being “residents” of Flyctory.com already. Not only that I reviewed their album Ravenblack in 2023 – they also made it into my Songs of the Week multiple times. On 15th August 2025, they are releasing a new album, Darkness. I had a listen.

 

Mono Inc. – About The Artists

Mono Inc. exist since a quarter of a century. They have been formed in Hamburg in 2000. With Darkness, the quartet is presenting their thirteenth album. Ravenblack and The Book of Fire (2021) both topped the German charts. Since their sixth album, After the War (2012) any of their records at least made it to the sixth spot in the domestic charts. Namely, the band consists of Martin Engler (vocals), Katha Mia (drums), Carl Fornia (guitar) and Ilja John Lappin (bass).

 

Mono Inc. – Darkness – Track by Track

The twelve song album lasts 47 minutes.

1. In My Darkness

Dark rock often feel a bit too hard to digest. Already in their 2025 opener In My Darkness, the Germans underline that you can do it differently as well. The melody has a nice touch and if there weren’t the intense guitar riffs in the background, you would even feel a touch of pop music ease in this one. A promising opener.

2. Lost in Pain

The second on song on Darkness is Lost in Pain. The song opens with a majestic intro, the stanzas step back a bit from. The chorus is a blast and offers an orchestral listening experience. So far, the German band keeps me smiling.

3. Fly

Three of the four songs released to raise the appetite for Darkness are presented at the beginning of the album. The only exception to that is Fly. Raven fly, raven fly, spread your wings and say good-bye – the Hamburg quartet shows their emotional side. The song starts very vocal-centrical, but more and more shows a wider instrumentation. A rock ballad with the dark, gothic-ish touch, which is one of the signature sounds of the band.

4. Dein Anker

With Dein Anker, the album stays rather on the gentle side. The key change, obviously, is that Mono Inc. sing German in this one. The song has a very vulnerable, but also uplifting touch. Here and there, there feel to be folk music elements. A really nice single release.

5. The Dark Side of the Sun

Piano-alike key sounds, a violin is strumming and Martin Engler almost feels isolated when he is asking Hello, can you hear me? at the beginning of the album. The album, which opened with the smashing In My Darkness, now shows a very different side of Darkness. Katha Mia joins in for this duet-alike song, which creates a strong statement with an energetic chorus. The song does not turn into a straight rocker, though. Mono Inc. manage to keep the spirit of the beginning thoughout the song. Lovely track!

6. Unter Deiner Haut

The title already suggests that Mono Inc. are back to a German song. Unter Deiner Haut (“Under Your Skin”). After the very intimate and personal moments, the intro feels almost bombastic. However, Mono Inc. don’t push it too hard. Furthermore, they present a lovely chorus. One of these songs which stay in your mind hours after listening to it the first time.

7. We Were Young

In We Were Young, Mono Inc. look back to the earlier days of life. The beginning of the song did not catch me that much – but with the hymnic chorus latest, they got me again. They got this magic in the most prominent section of a song. The fragile bridge is a lovely part of this seventh song on Darkness as well.

8. Ravenheart

This is your prophecy, it’s true, the universe believes in you – this song limits its instrumental section to the absolute minimum. The focus is on the vocals and to create a hymnic and epic listen. The song feels quiet and impressing in the album version – and it will turn into a massive sing along with their fans on the upcoming tour.

9. Abendrot

Abendrot is the fourth (and thus: last) song on the album, which has been released before the album. The song is a poetic one. Again, there are elements of folk rock in it. It is a good track, but it does not have a that strong character and message compared to other songs you have listened to before.

10. Sea of Love

Sea of Love is one of these songs, in which Mono Inc. manages to stay on the razor’s edge (without being cut). The love track feels melancholic in the stanzas, but also has a very kitschy, over-emotional touch to me. But then, the chorus puts it right back on track. Well done!

11. Nothing I Regret

In this review, I talked quite often about instrumentally condensed parts, which then contrast with epic and hymnic experience. There is a straight concept in Nothing I Regret – you’ve got the piano and Martin Engler on the microphone. That’s all. Mono Inc. makes us pause, reflect. It’s almost meditative. And its beautiful. I would have loved this one to be the absolutely touching and stunning finale of the album.

Here I am today
And I look at my reflection
I’m going through my past
It was really not too bad.

Whereever I may go
And whereever I may end up
There’s nothing I regret
No, nothing I regret.

12. Ray of Light

However, the in-fact chucker-out of Darkness is Ray of Light. The song starts with an atmospheric part. You can even spot some ravens, before the song starts becoming more rhythmic. Vocals as a narrative element are just part of the last third of this three minute one. Here comes the ray of light – and darkness ends. After the meditative experience before, it feels like Mono Inc. want to bring you back to real world life. Thus, if you want to have the album on repeat, don’t listen too intensively in here.

 

Mono Inc. – Darkness – Spotify

I will add the Spotify widget once the album has been published.

 

Mono Inc. – Darkness – My View

I really love what the quartet from Hamburg is doing in general. And I really enjoy what they are doing on their new album Darkness. They manage to tell stories in their style, control the mood of the listener and leverage between thoughtful and very rocking parts. Thus, to me, their 2025 major release is a really good one.

Favorite Song: The Dark Side of the Sun

 

Mono Inc. – Darkness Tour 2025

In October and November, Mono Inc. are on Darkness Tour. Here are the tour dates:

Th 02.10.2025 Hanover (Germany)- Swiss Life Hall
Fr 03.10.2025 Filderstadt – Filharmonie
Sa 04.10.2025 Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
Fr 10.10.2025 Berlin – Columbiahalle
Sa 11.10.2025 Zwickau – Stadthale
Sa 18.10.2025 Hamburg – Inselpark Arena
Fr 24.10.2025 Saarbrücken – Garage
Sa 25.10.2025 Cologne – E-Werk
Th 30.10.2025 Wiesbaden – Schlachthof
Fr 31.10.2025 Munich – Backstage Werk
Sa 01.11.2025 Pratteln (Switzerland) – Z7

 

 

Hamburg Top Pick!s

Here are all my reviews related to Hamburg leading to a Top Pick! rating:

 

Travel Postings with Picture Gallery

Here are all my Travel postings coming with a designated picture gallery:

 

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