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YEAR OF THE MONKEY HITS THE SHELVES: FUCKED UP UNLEASH COLLECTOR VINYL MOVE
Grass Can Move Stones
Canadian hardcore punk collective Fucked Up has released Year Of The Monkey on vinyl, the second chapter of their “Grass Can Move Stones” trilogy. Continuing the narrative thread that began with Year Of The Goat, the record pushes forward both the musical and conceptual scope of the band’s recent creative output.
The album centers on the self-discovery journey of two young characters, “Monkey” and “Good Goat.” Inspired by the 16th-century Chinese literary classic Journey To The West, the story constructs a narrative woven with mythological figures, gods, and perilous encounters. The project can also be read as a parallel metaphor for the band’s ever-shifting musical direction across a career spanning more than 25 years.
With vocal duties once again led by Damian Abraham and Tuka Mohammed, the album also features a wide array of guest contributors from across different scenes, all drawn into the narrative fabric. Figures such as John Brannon, Walter Schreifels, Dan Bejar, Keith Morris, and Jacob Bannon lend their voices to the album’s characters, adding a layered, multi-dimensional texture to the storytelling. Annie-Claude Deschênes also returns in the familiar role of “Tiger,” reprising her part from the 2012 release Year Of The Tiger.
The “Grass Can Move Stones” series is structured as a ten-part musical narrative. The saga began in December 2025 with Year Of The Goat. The newly released Year Of The Monkey arrives today, while the final installment, Year Of The Rooster, is scheduled for Autumn 2026, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the band’s Zodiac series.
On the physical release side, a distinctly collector-driven strategy stands out. Albums are first issued digitally via Bandcamp, followed by vinyl pre-orders. The second entry in the series, Year Of The Monkey, has been released as a 2xLP via Tankcrimes Records, with multiple limited color variants—some of which sold out rapidly.
The tracklist mirrors the narrative chapters of the record, with titles such as “Looking For Heaven And Not Finding It,” “Before Us Tigers Stood,” “Monkey Meets The Dragon,” and “Empty Is the Hand,” all reinforcing the album’s mythological tone.
Within the Fucked Up camp, the so-called “Zodiac Saga” continues to establish itself as a distinct creative era, defined by conceptual depth and an extensive roster of guest collaborators, further solidifying its place in the band’s evolving legacy.
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