Monsters We Made

Description

A musical career is a living, constantly evolving thing—a sonic palette of passions and influences guided by inspiration. For Kris Barras Band, formed in 2015 and led by Kris Barras, a former MMA fighter turned musician, that inspiration has taken them from their blues roots to a hard rock rebirth. The journey remains incredible, notably with their 2024 album "Halo Effect," which reached number 5 on the UK Official Albums Chart and number 1 on the Rock & Metal Albums Chart. This fascinating evolution continues on their upcoming sixth album, "Monsters We Made," with a sound perfectly suited to the legendary venues where they've performed, such as Wembley Arena and the Royal Albert Hall, while drawing comparisons to bands like Black Stone Cherry and Shinedown—which suits Kris just fine. "We wanted catchy tracks, powerful riffs, memorable solos," explains the band's frontman about their creative approach for this new record. "Stadium-sized hard rock: dense, complex, and capable of electrifying the biggest crowds." Such ambitions are easier said than done, but with the band's guitarist/keyboardist, Josiah Manning, at the production helm, it's a challenge that the Devon-based group—completed by bassist Frazer Kerslake and drummer Billy Hammett—has met brilliantly. Proof of this can be heard in the colossal opening track, which tackles the idea of being your own worst enemy and features what Kris rightly considers "one of the best choruses I've ever written"; or the epic ballad "Otherside," which touches the heart as much as the orchestral strings. "I'd like to believe this album can bring together our early fans and newcomers," says Kris about "Monsters We Made," a record that will appeal to blues lovers through its contrasts of light and darkness, as well as rock fans hungry for headbanging.