Wikipedia

Monuments (metal band)

Monumentsare a Britishprogressive metalband formed by formerFellsilentguitarist, John Browne, and formerTony Danza Tapdance Extravaganzaguitarist, Josh Travis. The band has released four studio albums throughCentury Media Records:Gnosis(2012),The Amanuensis(2014),Phronesis(2018) andIn Stasis(2022).

Monuments
Monuments performing in 2016
Monuments performing in 2016
Background information
OriginLondon,England
Genres
Years active2007–2024(hiatus)
LabelsCentury Media
MembersJohn Browne
Andy Cizek
Werner Erkelens
Past membersJosh Travis
Neema Askari
Greg Pope
Matt Rose
Anup Sastry
Daniel Lang
Chris Barretto
Olly Steele
Adam Swan
Mike Malyan

History

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The band was formed byFellsilentguitarist John Browne andthe Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganzaguitarist Josh Travis in 2007. After various lineup changes, the band signed withCentury Media Recordsin 2012, announcing the addition of singer Matt Rose the same day.[2]Their debut album,Gnosis,came out on 28 August 2012.

The band took part in theEuroblastEuropean Tour withJeff Loomis,Vildhjarta,and Stealing Axion.[3]Another European tour withBorn of OsirisandAfter the Burialfollowed in early 2013. By March 2013, the band parted ways with vocalist Matt Rose.[4]In July 2013, it was announced that formerPeripheryand current Ever Forthright and The HAARP Machine vocalist Chris Barretto had joined the band.[5]

In December 2013, the band announced via Facebook that they had completed their second album.[6]The drums were recorded inMonnow Valley Studio,Wales with Romesh Dodangoda (Motörhead,Sylosis,Bring Me the Horizon), while the rest of the instruments were tracked DIY by Browne, and the vocals were done withEyal Levi.[7]In April 2014, it was formally announced that their new album,The Amanuensis,would be released on 23 June 2014.

The band played on the Red Bull Studios Live Stage atDownloadon Sunday 15 June 2014. In March and April 2015, they supported Australian bandKarnivoolon their UK and European headline tour. Drummer Mike Malyan left the band during August 2015 due to injuries on his back and shoulder[8]and was replaced by Anup Sastry, the former Intervals drummer.[9]They played atHevymusic festival later that month.

On 16 June 2016, Anup Sastry announced on his Facebook page that he was amicably leaving the band, although he returned in 2018 to record drums for the new album,Phronesis.

In support of the release of the new album, Monuments performed a 31-date tour of the United Kingdom and mainland Europe over October and November with main support fromVola.[10]In January 2019 Monuments performed headline shows in New Zealand,[11]then on the Australian multi-date music festival Progfest.[12]

On 1 July 2019, Monuments announced that Chris Barretto had departed the band due to "personal reasons." They also announcedYouTuberAndy Cizekas their fill-in vocalist for the rest of the tour. On 11 October 2019, Monuments announced that Andy Cizek is now their official vocalist. Less than two months later, former drummer Mike Malyan rejoined the band.[13]

On 12 July 2021, Monuments announced that guitarist Olly Steele had left the band to pursue other musical projects. In January 2022, Monuments' fourth album,In Stasis,was announced with a release date of April 15, 2022.In StasisfeaturesMick Gordonas co-producer, with Spencer Sotelo of Periphery and ex-vocalist Neema Askari as guests. On 31 January 2023, Monuments announced departure of the bassist Adam Swan to pursue his environmental efforts with Soil Ecology Agriculture. His spot was filled with Dutch bassist Werner Erkelens of Aviations.[14]

On May 25, 2023, the band released a non-album single "Nefarious", along with a music video.[15]

On April 16, 2024, it was announced Mike Malyan left Monuments for the second time, citing emotional health as the reason for departure.[16]

On August 9, 2024, Monuments announced that guitarist John Browne will be taking a break due toankylosing spondylitiswhich he has been diagnosed with a few years earlier, and that the band will be going on indefinite hiatus, withdrawing from a planned US tour withLeprousand Fight the Fight.[17]

Band members

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From left to right: Adam Swan, Andy Cizek, Mike Malyan, John Browne

Current members

  • John Browne – guitars(2007–2024)
  • Andy Cizek– vocals(2019–2024)
  • Werner Erkelens – bass(2023–2024; touring member 2022)

Former members

  • Josh Travis – vocals, guitars(2007–2010)
  • Neema Askari – vocals(2010–2011)
  • Greg Pope – vocals(2010–2011)
  • Matt Rose – vocals(2012–2013)
  • Anup Sastry – drums(2015–2016, 2018)
  • Daniel Lang – drums(2016–2018, 2018–2019)[18]
  • Chris Barretto – vocals(2013–2019)
  • Olly Steele – guitars(2011–2021)
  • Adam Swan – bass(2010–2023)
  • Mike Malyan – drums(2010–2015, 2019–2024);samples(2014–2015, 2019–2024)

Touring musicians

  • Jake Monson – guitars(2010)
  • Paul Ortiz– guitars(2010–2011)
  • Kaan Tasan – vocals(2010)
  • John Gillen – drums(2014)
  • Alex Rüdinger– drums(2014)

Timeline

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Discography

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Studio albums

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Demos

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  • ...And It Will End in Dissonance(2006)[19]
  • We Are the Foundation(2010)

Singles

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  • "Doxa" (2012)
  • "Degenerate" (2012)
  • "I, the Creator" (2014)
  • "Origin of Escape" (2014)
  • "The Alchemist" (2014)
  • "Atlas" (2014)
  • "A.W.O.L" (2018)
  • "Leviathan" (2018)
  • "Mirror Image" (2018)
  • "Animus" (2020)
  • "Deadnest" (2021)[20]
  • "Lavos" (2021)
  • "Cardinal Red" (2022)
  • "False Providence" (2022)
  • "Nefarious" (2023)

References

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  1. ^Riley Rowe (24 October 2018)."Album Review: MONUMENTS Phronesis".Metal Injection.Retrieved7 November2018.
  2. ^"Monuments sign with Century Media Records".Lambgoat.Retrieved21 May2012.
  3. ^"EUROBLAST TOUR feat. JEFF LOOMIS, MONUMENTS, VILDHJARTA, STEALING AXION".Century Media.Retrieved17 July2012.
  4. ^"Monuments part ways with singer".Lambgoat.Retrieved25 March2013.
  5. ^"MONUMENTS Enlist Former PERIPHERY Vocalist Chris Barretto As New Singer".Metal Injection.2 July 2013.Retrieved2 July2013.
  6. ^"We finished writing album 2".Facebook.Retrieved4 December2013.
  7. ^"Monuments recording new album".Lambgoat.Retrieved18 December2013.
  8. ^"MONUMENTS - Mike here - here's a more personal goodbye".Facebook.
  9. ^"Monuments".Facebook.
  10. ^Scott Munro (8 August 2018)."Monuments announce UK and European tour".Metal Hammer.Retrieved17 October2018.
  11. ^"Monuments Announce New Zealand Shows".Under The Radar.NZ. 5 November 2018.Retrieved7 November2018.
  12. ^Jerry Ewing (25 September 2018)."The Ocean, Skyharbor, Monuments announced for Australia's Progfest 2019".Prog Magazine.Retrieved17 October2018.
  13. ^"Monuments Rejoined By Drummer Mike Malyan".ThePRP.3 December 2019.Retrieved3 December2019.
  14. ^"Monuments Officially Welcome New Bassist Werner Erkelens".ThePRP. 31 January 2023.Retrieved6 February2023.
  15. ^Monuments Launch New Track "Nefarious" - Theprp.com
  16. ^MONUMENTS Splits With Drummer MIKE MALYAN, Festival Dates Postponed Until 2025
  17. ^"Monuments Go On Indefinite Hiatus As Guitarist Josh Browne Adjusts To Life With Ankylosing Spondylitis".ThePRP. 9 August 2024.Retrieved9 August2024.
  18. ^"MONUMENTS Unveils New Drummer, Releases Studio Updates".16 May 2018.
  19. ^John Browne (23 February 2019),MONUMENTS |...AND IT WILL END IN DISSONANCE EP (2006) FT. Josh Travis,retrieved24 February2019
  20. ^"MONUMENTS Drops Crushing New Single" Deadnest "".26 March 2021.
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