French drone/sludge collective MONARCH have confirmed the details of their recently completed sixth album, Omens - the band's first release for Maryland-based At A Loss Recordings - now confirmed for public consumption on February 28th.

A thirty-four minute down-tempo/down-tuned ethereal funeral dirge comprised of three tracks, Omens perfectly personifies what fans have come to embrace about Monarch since their 2005 inception, their caustic, crushing style of slow-motion apocalyptic doom coming alive with haunting moans and layered, ghostly shrieks throughout Omens' entirety. The record features artwork by Yann Black and Valérie Poulin and will be released as a six-panel digipak CD in an initial pressing of 1,000 copies.

Monarch recorded Omens over a four month period in four different countries with four different producers - Osaka, Japan by Hironori Ochi at Kakurega, Melbourne, Australia by Neil Thomason at Head Gap, Montreal, Canada by Matt Cartman at Crane Studio, and Chicago, IL by Sanford Parker at Engine Studios - then mixed by Sanford Parker and mastered by Collin Jordan at The Boiler Room.

The album features newest member Rob Shaffer (DARK CASTLE, YOB) along with guitarist Shiran Kaïdine (YEAR OF NO LIGHT), bassist MicHell Bidegain, and as always the ethereal, penetrating vocals of Emilie Bresson. The record also includes guest appearances by Atsuchi Sano (BIRUSHANAH), Yailen Munoz (ENSSORCELOR), Eric Quach (THISQUIETARMY), Jeanne Peluard (THE SPARTEENS) and Robert MacManus (ex-GREY DATURAS, ex-Monarch).

A brand new teaser clip for Omens has been constructed to give fans a glimpse of what to expect from the album. Check it out below:

Monarch-Omens. from Sabbat Noir on Vimeo.

Omens tracklisting:

'Blood Seeress'

'Transylvanian Incantations'

'Black Becomes The Sun'

Continuing their tradition of constantly touring worldwide, Monarch have already confirmed several appearances throughout regions of Europe for February and March, with upcoming tours of Europe, Japan, and North America in the works as well.

Confirmed appearances:

February

17 - Gaztetxe d'Akotz - Basque Country
19 - Carlo Levi - Liège, Belgium
20 - USCHIS-HC IMBE - Leipzig, Germany
23 - Kuudes Linja - Helsinki, Finland
24 - Club Melna Piektdiena - Riga, Latvia
25 - Club Propaganda - Vilnius, Lithuania
29 - Loppen - Copenhagen, Denmark

March

1 - Stubnitz - Rostock, Germany
2 - AJZ Bielefeld - Bielefeld, Germany (with The Wounded Kings)
3 - Glazart, Paris, France