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.
Last Call for Life
Monumentum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
WHISPERS THE RAIN
DROPS FALL AND FALL
IN A SEA OF MUD
DERISORY SMILES
FOR THOSE WHO WASTE TIME,
HOT CURRENCY FOR THOSE
OPEN YOUR EYES
NO SCAR REMAINED
IT WAS ONLY A NEW
PAIN TO PAY
FEED YOURSELF
WITH MY SACRIFICE
KILL YOURSELF WITH
YOUR MORALITIES
(BUT) THERE ARE NO ANSWERS
FOR THE ARE NO QUESTIONS
THE ABYSS IS OPEN
OVER THE DOOR
(BUT) THERE ARE NO ANSWERS
FOR THE ARE NO QUESTIONS
I AIM FOR THE MARBLE
I MISSED THE LAST CALL FOR LIFE
SHINE YOUR LIGHT
OVER TO ME
HELP ME AND SEE THE
WAY TO THE SUN
THIS IS A LIFE
CONCEALED WITH CRIMES
I'LL SLEEP AWAKE AND
DROWN INTO SHAME
I TRUSTED YOUR GUIDE
BUT YOU ARE ALIVE
(WHILE) I AM CRAWLING
IN UNCLEAN FLOOD
ORDINARY LIFESTYLE
HAS NOW PASSED-BY
COOL WATER BLESS
THE FINAL MEDICINE
(BUT) THERE ARE NO ANSWERS
FOR THE ARE NO QUESTIONS
THE ABYSS IS OPEN
OVER THE DOOR
(BUT) THERE ARE NO ANSWERS
FOR THE ARE NO QUESTIONS
I AIM FOR THE MARBLE
I MISSED THE LAST CALL FOR LIFE
The song Last Call for Life by Monumentum is a reflection on the fleeting nature of human existence, and the struggle to find meaning in a world that seems indifferent to our suffering. The opening lines paint a picture of a desolate landscape, where rain falls endlessly into a sea of mud, and the sky is without eyes. In this setting, life seems to lose its value, and those who waste time are met with derisive smiles, while those who have already died inside are rewarded with wealth and power.
The singer, however, wants to hold on to hope, urging the listener to open their eyes and see that even though there may be pain to pay, there are no scars left behind. Life is a cycle of sacrifice and moral ambiguity, but there are no easy answers, and the abyss is always looming over the door. The chorus expresses the singer's desire to reach a better place, symbolized by the marble, but it seems that the opportunity has already passed him by.
Line by Line Meaning
AN EYELESS SKY
The sky is dark and foreboding, lacking any sign of hope or optimism.
WHISPERS THE RAIN
The rain falls gently, but with a feeling of gloom and despair.
DROPS FALL AND FALL
There is a sense of endlessness to the rain, like it will never stop.
IN A SEA OF MUD
The world seems bogged down by negative forces that make progress and growth impossible.
DERISORY SMILES
People who waste their lives receive mocking and disdainful looks from others who are more productive.
FOR THOSE WHO WASTE TIME,
Those who fail to make the most of their existence are seen as inferior or foolish.
HOT CURRENCY FOR THOSE
Success and productivity are highly valued, and seen as desirable commodities.
WHO DIED INSIDE
However, some people who achieve success may feel empty or hollow on the inside.
OPEN YOUR EYES
Wake up and pay attention to what is happening around you.
NO SCAR REMAINED
Whatever pain or wounds you have experienced in the past, they have healed and are no longer visible.
IT WAS ONLY A NEW
But that doesn't mean you won't ever feel pain again; it just means that the pain will take a different form.
PAIN TO PAY
Sometimes suffering is an unavoidable part of life that must be endured before a brighter future can emerge.
FEED YOURSELF
Take what you need from me to sustain yourself and move forward in life.
WITH MY SACRIFICE
I'm willing to give up something valuable to help you, even if it causes me pain or hardship.
KILL YOURSELF WITH
Get rid of your old ways of thinking and being to make room for something fresh and new.
YOUR MORALITIES
Your old beliefs and values may be getting in the way of your growth and development.
(BUT) THERE ARE NO ANSWERS
Sometimes in life there are no clear solutions or explanations to problems.
FOR THE ARE NO QUESTIONS
It may be difficult to even articulate what the problem is or what needs to be done to solve it.
THE ABYSS IS OPEN
There is a sense of danger or foreboding that something could go wrong at any moment.
OVER THE DOOR
This feeling of danger is ever-present, looming over every action or decision that is made.
I AIM FOR THE MARBLE
I strive for excellence and greatness in my endeavors.
I MISSED THE LAST CALL FOR LIFE
But despite my best efforts, I may have already missed out on important opportunities or experiences.
SHINE YOUR LIGHT
Help me find my way in the darkness and guide me towards success and fulfillment.
OVER TO ME
I need someone else's assistance to thrive and move forward in life.
HELP ME AND SEE THE
By helping me, you will see the positive impact you can have on others and the world around you.
WAY TO THE SUN
There is hope and joy to be found, even in the midst of darkness and despair.
THIS IS A LIFE
Existence is messy, complicated, and filled with obstacles and challenges.
CONCEALED WITH CRIMES
People often do things that are wrong or immoral when they are struggling or feel trapped.
I'LL SLEEP AWAKE AND
I'll be exhausted and drained, but unable to stop or take a break.
DROWN INTO SHAME
These bad decisions may end up hurting others, and causing deep regret and guilt.
I TRUSTED YOUR GUIDE
I looked up to someone else for guidance and support, but may have been let down or disappointed.
BUT YOU ARE ALIVE
They may have been able to move on or succeed in ways that I haven't.
(WHILE) I AM CRAWLING
While they are thriving, I am barely getting by and struggling every day.
IN UNCLEAN FLOOD
I am surrounded by negativity and bad influences that make it even harder to succeed.
ORDINARY LIFESTYLE
The monotony and dullness of everyday existence can be draining and depressing.
HAS NOW PASSED-BY
Those days of normalcy and comfort are gone, and things will never be the same again.
COOL WATER BLESS
Find comfort and solace in something simple and mundane, like a cool glass of water.
THE FINAL MEDICINE
This little bit of joy and serenity may be the only cure for the pain and suffering in the world.
Contributed by Grace A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@delhidelirium9091
Has this been remastered ? Sounds different from my cd ... I´ve always thought this was a great album, for some reason the production did not match the great songs in it though , unlike " In absentia Christi " where everything falls into place in a great way .