One of the things I was most excited about when the opportunity arose to write for Monster Riff was our regular feature Riff Notes. The idea of dropping science on a band, album or song that I’m obsessing over in the moment sounded super fun. So, for my first Riff Notes, I wanted to take a closer look at the last two releases from Greek heavy/desert rock stalwarts 1000mods , 2020’s Youth of Dissent , and 2024’s Cheat Death .
Youth of Dissent
Starting with Youth of Dissent, these records marked a shift in the bands sound, as the Euro, desert-rock stylings first heard on their early records, 2011’s Super Van Vacation, 2014’s Vultures with that sound and approach reaching its apex on 2016’s stellar Repeated exposure to…shifted into a more straight forward, heavy rock attack with both punk rock and early nineties grunge overtones .
I’m sure matters were aided by the band’s choice to record in Seattle, with legendary Pacific Northwest producer Matt Bayles ( Botch, Mastodon, Isis, Year Of The Cobra, The Sword ect.) as well as the the fact the record feels like a love letter to Nirvana’s first album Bleach in both tone and execution. It’s obvious from the moment the needle drops on Youth Of Dissent that this is a different 1000mods album, as opener Lucid, boasts a full-on soaring chorus, that’s catchy as hell, but what’s instantly noticeable is the sound, tempo and approach, which is totally different than what came before it, and it left many stoner rockers confused, and tossing sideways glances 1000mods way for daring to evolve their sound .
Warped might as well be a Nirvana cover, as guitarist Giorgios T , and Bayles completely succeed in capturing Cobain’s guitar tone from Bleach, while Dani G’s always killer vocals, boast some extra post-grunge bite, while still being totally accessible . Dear Herculine is a long-form, post-grunge, slow-burn of the highest order, while it’s easy to see why Pearl was released as a single, and why it was so initially jarring for fans of the band. Heavy, melodic, and catchy as fuck, this could’ve easily been on nineties rock radio. One of my favorite tracks on the album is the creepy-crawl, build-up in closer Mirrors , as 1000mods unfurl a head-nodder , that the band rides, eventually building into one of the dirtiest, most crushing riffs in 1000mods impeccable catalog.
Cheat Death
Meanwhile, Cheat Death, although released in late 2024, still found itself in my top 10 of the year, specifically top 5, even though I only had a few weeks to absorb it before submitting my selections. 1000mods chose to revisit the energy on Youth Of Dissent, once again enlisting Bayles’s services, and recording in the Pacific Northwest. This time however, 1000mods make a subtle shift in their sound, with the end result having both a punkier, yet more epic vibe. Opener, Overthrown all at once proffers a nastier, more “metal” guitar tone, that somehow falls closer to Euro-desert rock tones, than the grungy, fuzz heard on Youth Of Dissent. Overthrown also displays bassist/vocalist Dani G. ‘s uncanny ear for melody amidst the rumble, before the band careen into a chugging, catchy-as-hell breakdown outro.
The One Who Keeps Me Down is an awesome blast of driving, stoner punk, with metal flourishes and soaring vocal melodies that is easily one of my favorite tracks on the record. Götzen Hammer was one of the pre-release singles, and it too boasts a more aggressive, metal-ish chug than we’re used to hearing from 1000mods, as well as guest vocals from Apollonia from Greek punks Frenzee . Astral Odor returns to some of the stoner-nod heard on Repeated exposure to… , while Love turned out to be one of my favorite songs of the last few years.
Love is a long-form, desert pysch masterpiece to be sure, it was as catchy, and soaring as it was spacey, and emotive, and I found myself hitting “repeat” constantly whilst absorbing Cheat Death. Bluebird is a beautiful, instrumental acoustic track, with perfect note choices, that serves as a nice palette cleanser before the soaring, grunge-chug of the title track, Cheat Death. 1000mods then take the proverbial journey to the heart of the sun, with the epic, Floydian stoner of closer Grey, Green Blues , highlighting the sonic journey this band can take the listener on, at any given time, as well as why they are consistently championed as among the very best in the heavy rock universe.
In addition, I’d argue 1000mods willingness to evolve sonically , and take chances , as seen on Youth of Dissent , is also why they are so revered, as they are not content to simply batter their listeners into oblivion with the same riffage as heard on their breakthrough Vidage off their debut Super Van Vacation , and I for one am excited to see what direction 1000mods go next.