PORN – No Monsters in God’s Eyes – Part III CD Review
The final album in a trilogy is always bittersweet and PORN’s “No Monsters in God’s Eyes – Part III” is no different. I’m different for having listened though. Each track is a masterpiece.
(Quick FYI) The first song on the album is track 20 in the trilogy. You can start here, and then get the first two albums so you don’t miss anything. Either way, you will want to make sure you end up hearing the entire set.
So, the 20th song is “Dead in Every Eyes”. It starts out seductively dark. I feel like I’m carrying a heavy secret through a dark meadow, on my way to a pre-determined destiny. The song traverses from breathy, almost whispery vocals to something more assertive without losing any control whatsoever. There sounds, to me, to be a bit of a Scottish vibe in the melody, with the synth and keys holding a specific expertise which naturally draws me deeper to the song. In the meantime, Philippe Deschemin offers up vocals that will melt even the most hardcore reviewer. There is a lot of space and breathing in this song – exquisite!
The 2nd, or 21st track, is “High Summer Sun – Part 1”. It picks up into that “beachy-goth” type vibe that I adore. It has a little more rock than the last song and the vocals have a dash of guttural gruffness that rubs the right way. The melody has a lot going on which makes for a decadent texture with the vocals oozing on top. There is a strong hook and great chorus in this one.
Up next, “A Lovely Day” comes in eerie and builds to mysterious ~ I want to slither like a snake through a hazy jungle with my coolest friends slithering with me. The riff is super cool and there is a drone-y with a tribal like break that is sheer genius. This break turns the song down a whole new path. Instead of a snake, I’m now a raven, flying high over the jungle ~ perhaps to hunt and kill the snake I am…
After getting back to reality… “Low Winter Hope – Part 1” is my next new adventure. This track starts out with an epic beginning and eerie vocals, like I’m walking up a castle staircase toward something that I can’t quite access without superhuman patience. The simple progression of the song teases me, it’s profound in its simplicity. The vocals take a sort of operatic approach that let me know my patience will someday be vindicated.
This next song is aptly titled “In an Endless Dream” and PORN nails that dream! This is the most perfect goth lullaby in that it makes me want to drift into that space between awake and asleep. In that space I find myself floating in a big bubble, like a dark and dirty Cinderella, searching for my Goblin King. The effects and pulsing vocals are spine-tingling and encourage my diversional fantasy.
“Low Winter Hope – Part 2” wakes me up with a more upbeat vibe. There is still the whispering “scream wind” carrying through this song, but I’ve found my Goblin King and we’re mischievously frolicking through the dark graveyard, although it will most likely end in tragedy…. The gruffer vocals add a seriousness to the lilting harmony. All the while, outstanding soundscapes ebb and flow in a way where they drop out of the song yet still whisper in the most provocative way.
A pulsing beat opens up “Sky Outside” with some zesty noodling (a positive comment, it sounds great!). A new dimension is introduced to the vocals which heralds a sort of “clear sky” vibe. This track has the most rock sound of all so far and it leaves me wanting to sing along.
Speaking of all, the entire album has moving melodies. “High Summer Sun – Part 2” is no different. I feel a magnetically pulling force that compels me to surrender to the harmony.
At this point, I’m wondering if this vocalist has any limitations, his range is CRAZY! I am very much digging how it lays over the acoustic guitar in the “Some Happy Moments” intro. The overdub has an oceanic effect and I feel like I’m weaving in and out, like the tides. The song picks up, the chorus is brilliant, and the digital playback is obscenely perfect.
Amping up into a faster BPM, “God’s Creatures” leaves me with the feeling of wanting to run for the hills – TOWARD the music. The verses are reserved and break into a rockin’ chorus. This song has one of the most straight-forward riffs on the album. It falls right into the secret sauce that makes PORN so decadently dangerous.
“Low Winter Hope – Part 3” begins wistfully, like a ballad, before building into a more assertive verse. 
The song structure is superbly unusual and the acoustic guitar is a great break into the piano keys outro.
Unlike “Low Winter Hope – Part 3”, “Among Dark Red Roses” comes out BIG right off the first note. I can tell we get to experience something profound… the drum kick pattern is insane, and it feels like we are marching through some fresh elements that have a definite Wow factor through the whole album. I feel alone again – Good-bye Goblin King. The toms have a spectacular groove while the guitar has a luscious metal tone. It’s the kind of tone that crawls under my skin unforgettably. At the same time the interesting rhythm keeps me at full attention. Of course, the vocals caress and torture at a soul deep level.
I won’t give away “Mr. Strangler’s Last Words”. You’ll have to take this journey on your own and discover these words for yourself. I can tell you that you will feel words like menacing, eerie, trance inducing. I SO want to stay in the space this final track evokes….
Brave PORN! Every detail of this album, production, mix, mastering, art, and all the delicious songs are out of this world. Thank you and congratulations.
PORN Live band:
- Philippe Deschemin aka Mr Strangler : Vocals
- Erwan Frugier aka The One : Guitar
- Stephane Rimasauskas aka Zinzin Stiopa : Guitar
- Hervé Guillemard Aka The priest : Bass
- Lucas Delobelle : Drums
Follow PORN:
- Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/artist/3BwoVO33LVOTsaKZhNG2tn
- YouTube : https://tinyurl.com/y7mjdbcr
- Apple Music : https://tinyurl.com/uynlynb
- Deezer : https://tinyurl.com/ya78s98y
- Bandcamp : https://tinyurl.com/y9akbm8v
You MUST check out – “Low Winter Hope, pt. 2” (Official Music Video)
A quick trajectory:
In 2017, PORN released its third album : The Ogre Inside.- Act I, the first act of a trilogy based on the enigmatic character Mr Strangler. In 2019, the band released the second act of its trilogy : The Darkest of Human Desires – Act II. On March 27, 2020, PORN returns with the final act : No Monsters in God’s Eyes – Act III.
