“Steve Albini died, a friend died, my father died, the father of my wife died. But I want to focus on the positive”: How a composer's approach and 40 DD-3 pedals helped noise masters MONO to heal their grief

SHEFFIELD, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 24: Takaakira "Taka" Goto of MONO performs on stage at the Corporation on March 24, 2009 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Gary Wolstenholme/Redferns).

We ask too much of a piece of music if we expect it to heal our grief following the loss of a loved one. But Takaakira “Taka” Goto sincerely hopes MONO’s new record, Snowdrop, can help. And he has reason to believe it can – he’s seen how powerful it can be.

His last few years have been rough. Goto’s father died in 2022; and then in 2024, the venerable Japanese instrumental rock quartet lost their partner-in-crime Steve Albini. He passed a month before OATH, their last album together, was released. He’d produced all MONO’s albums since 2004.