From the heart of Pontiac-Detroit-Ann Arbor’s underground music scene emerges a duo that defies convention—Powers of the Monk (POM), a band that fuses raw intensity with refined artistry. At its core, POM is the brainchild of David S. Monk, a multi-instrumentalist and enigmatic vocalist, and CasSondra “Pontiac” Powers, whose haunting violin and ethereal vocals add a spectral beauty to their work. Since 2022, they’ve been crafting a sound that straddles rock’s most experimental edges, guided by their partnership with Italian producer Dani Macchi (of Belladonna fame). Their latest release, a remixed version of ‘Strip the Bone,’ is a sonic séance, summoning ghosts of past and future through hypnotic repetition, unorthodox textures, and visceral emotion.
From the first seconds, Strip the Bone (Remix) doesn’t ask for your attention—it commands it. The track opens with a minimalist yet unsettling atmosphere. A low, humming drone snakes through the background, accompanied by the faintest flickers of reverb-drenched guitar, teasing the senses with an almost post-apocalyptic bleakness. Slowly, an off-kilter drum pattern enters—steady but uneasy—like footsteps echoing down an abandoned corridor. Then, the first taste of vocals: a murmured whisper, almost like an incantation, setting the stage for what’s to come.
The vocals in Strip the Bone (Remix) are hypnotic and confrontational. David S. Monk’s delivery is raw, a mix of brooding speak-singing and emotive wails that seem to claw their way out of some deep abyss. There’s a deliberate use of repetition with the phrase “Strip the bone”, almost as if the song is attempting to shed its own skin in real-time. CasSondra “Pontiac” Powers’ harmonies glide in at key moments, spectral and weightless, adding an eerie counterpoint to Monk’s raw intensity.
The production is a masterclass in art-rock experimentation. Macchi’s touch is evident in the intricate layering of textures—guitars that wail and shimmer in distant echoes, violins that cut through like spectral wails, and a rhythmic pulse that shifts between organic and mechanical. The bass rumbles beneath like tectonic movement, anchoring the song’s ethereal elements with something primal and grounding. There’s a restrained tension in the arrangement, like a storm swirling just outside the door.
While the original Strip the Bone already carried an unsettling energy, the remix elevates it to an almost cinematic level. The production allows each instrument to breathe while maintaining an ever-present sense of claustrophobia. The mix is polished and unhinged, letting jagged edges remain while ensuring a sense of cohesion. The way the violin intertwines with distorted guitars and deep, reverb-soaked percussion is particularly striking—it’s like hearing the past and future of rock colliding in real-time.
Strip the Bone (Remix) is a fearless, hypnotic plunge into the depths of sound and emotion. It’s art-rock in its purest form—unpredictable, haunting, and brimming with a dark poeticism. Powers of the Monk have proven that they are unafraid to strip music down to its most vulnerable core, revealing the bones of raw creativity beneath. If you haven’t yet immersed yourself in POM’s world, this is your invitation. But be warned—once you enter, their music lingers in your bloodstream long after the final note fades.
Listen to “Strip The Bone (Remix)” on Spotify
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