RevIew: Kris Barras Band – Monsters We Made

Earache Records – August 14^th, 2026

Reviewer – David Brighouse

This is the latest album from ex-MMA man Kris and what is now his more hard rock orientated outfit, having moved away from his early blues leanings, and the follow up to 2024’s ‘Halo Effect‘.

The album opener and title track ‘Monsters We Made‘ is an explosive start with a great sing-along chorus and really hits hard. Current single ‘Beautiful Lie‘ is about being betrayed, but in a way that’s almost beautiful in its execution, and the song is also excellently executed and will have you singing along in no time.

‘Riot Of One‘ is a another hard-hitter and the almost chanted chorus reminds me of ‘Hail Mary’ from 2018 album ‘The Divine and Dirty‘. A slower paced track with an acoustic opening ‘Unspoken‘ still contains the trademark anthemic chorus and cracking guitar solos. ‘All Falls Down‘ picks up the pace again and is another listenable, but not stand out track.

‘Alive’ is a much more intriguing song with interesting changes of pace and a stunning mid-song guitar solo. ‘Otherside‘ begins with soaring guitar and ends with soft piano and could be the highlight of the album with Kris turning in an emotional performance in a song about mental struggles. The guitar intro to ‘Fake‘ has an almost Celtic feel and that theme keeps cropping up during another passionately delivered song. ‘Rewind‘ is the ‘poppiest’ and the most varied song on the album but is none the poorer for that.

The closest thing on the album to a ballad, ‘End Of Me‘ has another towering chorus full of power and emotion. Closing number ‘Levitate‘ is another great track that rocks hard, but also possesses changes of pace that raise it from the norm and finishes things off in fine style.

Kris has had a tough time of it in the time since ‘Halo Effect‘ with his mother dying from cancer, but he has used his grief to good effect in writing this collection of songs full of riffs, great choruses and guitar solos, but you can also really hear the sincerity and emotion throughout the record and it’s another significant step in the evolution of Kris and his band.

Track List:

1. Monsters We Made
2. Beautiful Lie
3. Riot of One
4. Unspoken
5. All Falls Down
6. Alive
7. Otherside
8. Fake
9. Rewind
10. End of Me
11. Levitate

Line-up:

Kris Barras – Lead Vocals & Guitar

Josiah J. Manning – Guitar & Keyboards

Frazer Kerslake – Bass

Billy Hammett – Drums

Web Links:

Official Website

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