History
Fellsilent guitarist John Browne and the Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza guitarist Josh Travis formed the band 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 Rose. [4] In July 2013, it was announced former Periphery and current Ever Forthright and The HAARP Machine vocalist Chris Barretto joined the band. [5]
In December 2013, the band announced via Facebook they 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 their then-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] Former Intervals drummer Anup Sastry replaced him. [9] They played at Hevy music festival later that month.
On 16 June 2016, Sastry announced on his Facebook page he left the band, although he returned in 2018 to record drums for the album Phronesis.
In support of the release of the 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 headlined shows in New Zealand, [11] and played on the Australian multi-date music festival Progfest. [12]
On 1 July 2019, Monuments announced Barretto departed the band due to "personal reasons." They announced YouTuber Andy Cizek as their fill-in vocalist for the rest of the tour. On 11 October 2019, Monuments announced Cizek was their official vocalist. Less than two months later, Malyan rejoined the band. [13]
On 12 July 2021, Monuments announced guitarist Olly Steele 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 featured Mick Gordon as co-producer, with Spencer Sotelo of Periphery and ex-vocalist Neema Askari as guests. On 31 January 2023, Monuments announced the departure of bassist Adam Swan to pursue his environmental efforts with Soil Ecology Agriculture. Dutch bassist Werner Erkelens of Aviations filled his spot. [14]
On May 25, 2023, the band released standalone single "Nefarious", as a promotion for Charles White's comic book series GodSlap, along with a music video featuring an animation based on the comics. [15] [16]
On April 16, 2024, it was announced Malyan left Monuments a second time, citing emotional health as the reason for departure. [17]
On August 9, 2024, Monuments announced guitarist John Browne would take a break due to ankylosing spondylitis he was diagnosed with a few years earlier, and the band would go on indefinite hiatus, withdrawing from a planned US tour with Leprous and Fight the Fight. [18]
