Moneen hopes to captivate with refreshed sound

Over the course of a 10-year existence, every band goes though some changes. Brampton's Moneen is no exception.
After parting ways with friend and original drummer Peter Krpan in early 2008, the band's three remaining members were determined to press on.
Kenny Bridges, Erik Hughes and Chris "Hippy" Hughes welcomed Steve Nunnaro into the band to take over. Though the split was mutual, Bridges explained that it did not stop the band from trying things musically that it hadn't before.
"It was great," he said. "We just had this feeling that we were re-born, and that we had the freedom to do whatever we wanted."
The result is Moneen's fourth full-length album, The World I Want To Leave Behind, a record that Bridges admits is a departure from earlier material, but one that he thinks represents a side of the band that fans may have not seen yet.
"We had new musical goals we wanted to reach," he said. "I don't think we're by any means a new band, but things like quieter songs and more atmospheric songs - we haven't really jumped head-on into that. I think on this record, we did, and its something we've always wanted to do."
"There's some songs on the new record that are way more intense than I think we've ever done, so we've kind of covered the entire spectrum of what Moneen has always wanted to be," added Bridges.
Although the new record was just released in September, Moneen has been busy, touring Australia and Germany, as well as working out a deal that would see The World released on Dine Alone Records in Canada. The album was recorded in January at Rattlebox Studios in Toronto.
After touring around the US with Say Anything for the past month and a half, Bridges said that the new and noticeably different material has been well received by fans - a trend he hopes will continue on their current cross-Canada tour with Sights & Sounds.
"The response about the new record has been really overwhelming to us," he admitted. "In the past [.] people would remember us for bodies flying around and a great live show, but I don't know if the songs would stick in people's heads as much. I think with some of the new songs, the reactions to the songs were a lot better than ever."
The US tour wasn't without challenges, explained Bridges. But with bad, came some good. While in Utah, the band's van broke down, and Bridges and fellow guitarist "Hippy" Hughes had to fly out and play eight shows entirely acoustic.
"It was really cool," he said. "All the bands and people after the first show said 'I can't believe how good that was, I didn't know you guys could do that'. We've felt like it's a shame that we haven't been able to show that side as much in the past. [But now], I think we've found a really perfect balance of intensity and beauty all in one record."
For those who may have listened to The World, and are skeptical about it, Bridges has some advice.
"I would say get out your headphones, put them into your ears, listen to that record and sort of really hear what that record is all about," he said. "It's such a headphone-ear candy record. It's not a record meant to be listened to and have catchy pop songs on the first listen. It's a record that we know is a 'grow on you' record."
Although Bridges says that they plan to "tour the hell out of" their new album, he believes that fans can definitely expect more music in the near future. Currently building a recording studio in his basement, Bridges says that whether it's EPs, seven-inches, or just demos, making music is always the band's focus.
"We just want to write music and let people hear it," he said. "We just want to create music because that's what's in our hearts. That's all we think about all the time. When I'm driving, all I'm thinking about it music."
Moneen is playing at L3 in St. Catharines on Dec. 4 with Sights & Sounds and Del Asher.