Monarch - MA3 (2026) Hi Res

San Diego's Monarch have long been known for explosive live sets and harmony-drenched psych rock. Their third studio album, MA3, marks a significant leap forward. Where Two Isles (2016) and Beyond the Blue Sky (2019) drew from classic and modern psych rock, space rock, and progressive rock, MA3 finds the band threading electronics through the bones of their heavy psych sound -- big, layered synths and tighter arrangements that hold the weight of their earlier records while reaching toward something sleeker and more luminous. Think Pond's sun-baked psych rock fused with Daft Punk's heavyweight synth production, but distinctly Monarch.

Monarch has toured extensively in the US and Europe, including a 2023 run with Earthless, whose guitarist Isaiah Mitchell contributes a scorching guest solo on "Face to Face." The album's visual identity was created by San Diego photographer and creative director Dana Trippe, known for her work with Tame Impala, Angel Olsen, Automatic, and Pond's Nick Allbrook.

The album arrives as Monarch returns to the stage for a run of 2026 live dates, with synth textures and vocal harmonies that reward both headphone listening and a live audience.