As far as instrumentals go, there are a few different types. They typically fall in one of two categories, a musical replacement for white noise or music that can be enjoyed through active listening. Monster Wave's whole discography blows both categories out of the water with a beautiful ambient masterpiece that combines the easy listening of white noise and the depth and intrigue of instrumentals designed to be consumed actively.

Monster Wave is a surf rock instrumental band from Asheville, North Carolina. They are currently taking the town of Asheville by storm, getting gigs at well known venues such as the Grey Eagle and the Orange Peel. As of writing this Monster Wave has amassed about 392 monthly listeners.

The music takes the scales from surf music and adds a haunting twist that really helps the band come into their own. Inspiration for the art, live performances, and overall vibe to the music comes from black and white monster films, most notably The Creature From The Black Lagoon.

They currently have released an EP and an album. The first album in their discography, Pazuzu Luau, just had its 1 year anniversary, being released on bandcamp on November 3rd, 2023. The EP, Beyond the Reef, was released on bandcamp October 31st, 2022.

The first song on the EP, The Legend of Sir Cophagus, and the whole of the EP was written by a brilliant man and musician by the name of Casey Elijah Willis. The song takes the surf elements you will see later in the EP and turns them into a song adjacent to rock or heavy metal, having a slightly heavier undertone to the song as a whole.

The next song is R.I.P Curl, takes it down a bit, with a smooth, resonating electric guitar with the occasional riff that extends the whole song beyond your classic surf music. The witty name brings the whole song together with a perfect combination of surf and horror.

The third song, Beyond The Reef, is one of their most popular for a reason. In my opinion, this song is a perfect middle ground that ties the album together as a whole and is a perfect example of the manipulation of surf scales to fit the black and white horror essence.

The fourth on the EP is Lighthouse Lagoon. This song has some of the best leads and riffs in Monster Wave’s whole discography. The extremely simple yet endlessly complex chorus is a musical masterpiece that lends so well to the other instruments without taking away in the slightest.

Last but not least on the EP is Wolfman Stomp which, in my opinion, is the most engaging. This song lends credence to samples to further engage the listener and create a beautiful link with the title of the song.

The beauty of this discography is, in my opinion, nearly unmatched in uniqueness and technique compared to many new and upcoming bands. If the descriptions of the songs in their first released ep intrigue you, I urge you to check out Pazuzu Luau.

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Underground Music Discovery: Monster Wave