The band was founded in Milan, Italy in mid 1987 by guitarist Roberto Mammarella and bassist Anthony Duman, who recruited vocalist Mark Westfall and drummer Mox Cristadoro. Between December 1988 and April 1989, the band recorded and mixed the five song demo Musaeum Hermeticum, which was released as a limited edition cassette of 180 copies. Two tracks, "Nostalgia of the Infinite" and a cover of The Dead Relatives' "Nephtali", were selected by Obscure Plasma Records for a split single with the Greek black metal band Rotting Christ in 1991.
Following a brief split, Monumentum were picked up by the predominantly black metal Norwegian label Deathlike Silence Productions. However, before the proposed album could be released, DSP owner Øystein Aarseth (Mayhem) was murdered, leaving the band label-less. The album, In Absentia Christi, recorded and mixed between August 1994 and May 1995, finally saw the light of day through the British label Misanthropy Records.
The recording line-up featured two vocalists, in the form of Andrea Zanetti (of Italian act Iconoclast) and Francesca Nicoli (of Ataraxia, alongside Mammarella ("strings, keys and vibas"), Cristadoro (drums) and Paolo Mauri ("samples, artistic production and wisdom"). The band claimed the album was influenced by the poets Iginio Ugo Tarchetti and Giacomo Leopardi, and included a cover of "Fade to Grey" by Visage.
Activity from the band became sparse until reuniting to record "The Colour of Compassion" for Misanthropy's anti-censorship compilation Presumed Guilty (1998); the line-up for this consisted of Mammarella, Cristadoro, Federico Simonetta (bass) and Daniele Bovo (keyboards). Further compilation appearances included the Death SS tribute album Beyond the Realm of Death SS, to which Monumentum contributed a cover of "Black & Violet". Line-up for this appearance consisted of Mammarella, Cristadoro, Bovo, Max Vaccaro (bass) and Jesuis Qui (vocals); the latter is Cornelius Brastad of Solefald.
Monumentum reunited in 2001 to record Ad Nauseam for Tatra Productions. The line-up had changed again; Ad Nauseam featured Mammarella, Andrea Bellucci on keyboards, Daniele Bovo on guitar and keyboards, Andrea Stefanelli (of Nuvula Neshua) and Alis Francesca Bos on vocals, Diego Danelli on bass and Elisa Carrera on drums, although the latter had to pull out mid-way through recording after getting pregnant.
In 2004 Monumentum briefly resumed activity to contribute to the Tribute To Dead Can Dance: The Lotus Eaters CD (covering "Windfall"). As of 2004, the band has disbanded permanently.
La Noia
Monumentum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I Feel this Dazed by the NOTHING which
is Surrounding me that, IF I went Mad
in this VERY moment, my Own Insanity
wouldn't be but, an ETERNAL sitting down
My EYES Astounded, my MOUTH's opened
my HANDS hidden, between my knees
nor EVEN Moving, if not on Compulsion
from the Place where I'd be.
I have no more VIGOUR
to Conceive any WISH, not even a Deadly one
and not because I FEAR death, but 'cos I NO LONGER see
any difference between DEATH and this LIFE of mine
where NOBODY comes to Relieve me
not EVEN the Sorrow.
This is the First time that TEDIUM not only Tires
and weighs Down on me, it's also Worrying
and Tearing me, just like the STRONGEST of Pains.
I've got so Frightened by the VANITY of things
and the Condition of Mankind - Death of every Passion -
as they're ALL DEAD, in My Heart
that I'm going Insane, thinking that my DESPAIR itself
isn't BUT NOTHING
Farewell
(Lyric: a free interpretation & translation from)
("Sulla Noia e la Disperazione" by Giacomo Leopardi 1819)
(A.Z.:vox+R.M.:guitar,bass,keys,screams+M.C.:drums,screams)
The lyrics of "La Noia" by Monumentum reveal the profound feelings of boredom and despair experienced by the singer. The song depicts a sense of detachment and disconnection from life, which has resulted in the singer feeling astounded and has had a profound effect on the individual. The lyrics reveal the singer's inability to find any meaning or passion in life, and this has left them feeling weary and hopeless.
The words suggest that the singer is experiencing a sense of existential angst, and life holds no purpose or significance to them. The lyrics are heavy with emotion and a feeling of melancholy, which is further emphasized by the slow and haunting music. One can feel the deep sense of despair that the singer has succumbed to.
The song portrays the human condition of boredom, which leads to despair and hopelessness. It highlights how we can become consumed by feelings of emptiness, and how this can affect our mental state. The use of vivid language paints a clear picture of the singer's psychological experience, which is undoubtedly relatable to many.
Line by Line Meaning
I Feel this Dazed by the NOTHING which is Surrounding me that, IF I went Mad in this VERY moment, my Own Insanity wouldn't be but, an ETERNAL sitting down
I feel so overwhelmed by the emptiness around me that even if I were to lose my mind, it wouldn't change anything because all I would be doing is sitting in the same eternal boredom.
My EYES Astounded, my MOUTH's opened my HANDS hidden, between my knees neither Laughing nor Weeping nor EVEN Moving, if not on Compulsion from the Place where I'd be.
I'm so bored that I'm just sitting here, not crying, laughing or even moving except when absolutely necessary, with my eyes wide and mouth open in disbelief at how uneventful everything is.
I have no more VIGOUR to Conceive any WISH, not even a Deadly one and not because I FEAR death, but 'cos I NO LONGER see any difference between DEATH and this LIFE of mine where NOBODY comes to Relieve me not EVEN the Sorrow.
I've become so disillusioned with life that I don't even have the energy to want anything, not even to harm myself. Even death seems no different from this monotonous existence where no one cares enough to even offer me sympathy.
This is the First time that TEDIUM not only Tires and weighs Down on me, it's also Worrying and Tearing me, just like the STRONGEST of Pains.
For the first time, my boredom is not only exhausting but also causing me great worry and pain, like the most intense physical pain.
I've got so Frightened by the VANITY of things and the Condition of Mankind - Death of every Passion - as they're ALL DEAD, in My Heart that I'm going Insane, thinking that my DESPAIR itself isn't BUT NOTHING
I'm terrified by how meaningless everything seems and how no one seems to care anymore, and it's driving me insane to think that my own hopelessness is as insignificant as everything else.
Farewell
Goodbye - a final farewell to this unbearable existence.
Contributed by Makayla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Zoydian
Great song!
Erydiam Wintermoon
Old memories of darkness, blood and sacrifice ..Hail Monumentum!!...
Djan Marja
Capolavoro immortale
Firegod
forever and ever underground masterpiece .....
Daniela Martins
don´t give up, angel.
Max Doomster30
absolute darkness
Daniele Manno
Lyrics by Giacomo Leopardi. There exist also a version with lyrics in Italian:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRd7MyjV5q4
La Noia (Boredom) lyrics:
I feel this dazed by the nothing which
Is surrounding me that, if I went mad
In this VERY moment, my own insanity
Wouldn't be but, an ETERNAL sitting down
My EYES Astounded, my MOUTH's opened
My HANDS hidden, between my knees
Neither Laughing nor Weeping
Nor EVEN Moving, if not on Compulsion
From the Place where I'd be
I have no more VIGOUR
To Conceive any WISH, not even a Deadly one
And not because I FEAR death, but 'cos I NO LONGER see
Any difference between DEATH and this LIFE of mine
Where NOBODY comes to Relieve me
Not EVEN the Sorrow
This is the First time that TEDIUM not only Tires
And weighs Down on me, it's also Worrying
And Tearing me, just like the STRONGEST of Pains
I've got so Frightened by the VANITY of things
And the Condition of Mankind - Death of every Passion -
As they're ALL DEAD, in My Heart
That I'm going Insane, thinking that my DESPAIR itself
Isn't BUT NOTHING
Farewell
(a free interpretation & translation from)
("Sulla Noia e la Disperazione", Giacomo Leopardi 1819)