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Monuments (metal band)

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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

Monuments are a British progressive metal band formed by former Fellsilent guitarist, John Browne, and former Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza guitarist, Josh Travis. The band has released four studio albums through Century Media Records: Gnosis (2012), The Amanuensis (2014), Phronesis (2018) and In Stasis (2022).

History

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The band was formed by Fellsilent guitarist John Browne and the Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza guitarist Josh Travis in 2007. After various lineup changes, the band signed with Century Media Records in 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 the Euroblast European Tour with Jeff Loomis, Vildhjarta, and Stealing Axion.[3] Another European tour with Born of Osiris and After the Burial followed in early 2013. By March 2013, the band parted ways with vocalist Matt Rose.[4] In July 2013, it was announced that former Periphery and 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 in Monnow 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 with Eyal 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 at Download on Sunday 15 June 2014. In March and April 2015, they supported Australian band Karnivool on 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 at Hevy music 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 from Vola.[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 announced YouTuber Andy Cizek as 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 Stasis features Mick Gordon as 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 to ankylosing spondylitis which 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 with Leprous and 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. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  2. ^ "Monuments sign with Century Media Records". Lambgoat. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  3. ^ "EUROBLAST TOUR feat. JEFF LOOMIS, MONUMENTS, VILDHJARTA, STEALING AXION". Century Media. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Monuments part ways with singer". Lambgoat. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  5. ^ "MONUMENTS Enlist Former PERIPHERY Vocalist Chris Barretto As New Singer". Metal Injection. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  6. ^ "We finished writing album 2". Facebook. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  7. ^ "Monuments recording new album". Lambgoat. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  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. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Monuments Announce New Zealand Shows". Under The Radar.NZ. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  12. ^ Jerry Ewing (25 September 2018). "The Ocean, Skyharbor, Monuments announced for Australia's Progfest 2019". Prog Magazine. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Monuments Rejoined By Drummer Mike Malyan". ThePRP. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Monuments Officially Welcome New Bassist Werner Erkelens". ThePRP. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  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. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  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, retrieved 24 February 2019
  20. ^ "MONUMENTS Drops Crushing New Single "Deadnest"". 26 March 2021.
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