CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu-based band monopolice has officially released their debut full-length album El Elefante, now available on all major streaming platforms. The 10-track record dropped on July 18, 2025, marking the culmination of nearly two years of anticipation following the group’s steady rollout of singles.
The album showcases monopolice’s distinctive blend of atmospheric and progressive rock, shaped by vocalist and primary songwriter Miguel Granada, guitarists Corts Cortes and Karl Lucente, along with the rest of the five-member ensemble (Jessiree Geverola on bass and Peter Mascariñas on drums). Despite the challenge of balancing music with full-time professions, the band dedicated themselves to bringing the album to life.
“The hardest part is the logistics of getting a group of five members together, all of whom have full-time jobs,” Granada explained. “Once we’re all in the same room, it’s pretty easy. The chemistry in the band is undeniable, and our individual talents fit like puzzle pieces.”
The chemistry in the band is undeniable, and our individual talents fit like puzzle pieces.
Miguel Granada, on monopolice’s creative process
El Elefante opens with “This Is Not How It Begins,” an atmospheric track that sets the tone for the album’s dynamic flow. From the sweeping energy of “A Fine Day for a Swim” to the introspective pacing of “Water” and the confrontational drive of “Legion,” the record traverses a wide emotional spectrum. The Cebuano-referencing “Foodland” adds a local nod, while “Hunter” introduces a hard-hitting groove. “Perfume” and “Strathmore” revisit themes of vulnerability, followed by the hopeful “Prodigals.” The album closes with “Overthrow,” a layered, cinematic finale that leaves listeners with a sense of continuation beyond the last note.
While their influences include Muse, Mutemath, Interpol, Incubus, Toe, and Rico Blanco, Monopolice emphasizes that their sound evolves organically. “The ‘monopolice sound’ will be in an ongoing process of finding itself ad aeternum,” Granada said. “Each member is a fan of the other members’ previous bands, and we appreciate all our musical differences. The writing process for us involves a lot of constructive push and pull.”
An unintentional but recurring theme of water runs through El Elefante. Granada noted that while it was not deliberately planned, it emerged naturally during the songwriting process. “‘Overthrow’, for instance, was inspired by the storm Odette. It’s not always literal in the words, but water became an element that tied the songs together.”
The album title itself is a dedication to Mali, the elephant who lived in Manila Zoo until her passing in 2023. For many years, animal rights advocates had campaigned for Mali’s transfer to a better environment due to isolation and poor conditions. “We like to think it’s the same themes of isolation that we tackle in the album,” Granada shared. “And we thought it sounded better in Spanish.”
El Elefante is now streaming worldwide. Listeners can preview the single “Hunter” and explore the rest of the record on their preferred digital platforms. Fans can also follow @monopoliceofficial on social media for news and updates.