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.
Selunhs Aggelos
Monumentum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He silently enters your Dreams.
And to Gently Awake you, he Despones
in your Mouth the WET GIFT: Semen Lunae
[Mauro Berchi,1995]
[F.N.:vox+R.M.:keys,maranzano,bass,bouzouki+M.C.:]
The lyrics of Monumentum's song Selunhs Aggelos are a powerful and vivid representation of the mystical and sacred aspects of sexuality. The song invokes the image of a divine being, dressed in beauty and light, who infiltrates the realm of dreaming and awakens the sleeper through the gift of Semen Lunae, or Moon Seed. This gift, which is both physical and spiritual in nature, is symbolic of the union of the masculine and feminine energies that are present within all of us.
The use of the term Semen Lunae is particularly interesting, as it is a reference to the alchemists' belief in the magical properties of mixing lunar and solar energies to create a new form of consciousness. The lyrics suggest that this gift is given to us through our mouths, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the tongue and our ability to speak truth and create reality through language.
Overall, the song Selunhs Aggelos is a powerful invocation of the divine principles of sexuality and the transformative power of union. It encourages us to explore and embrace the sacredness of our own sexuality and to recognize the potential for spiritual growth and evolution that it holds.
Line by Line Meaning
Dressed in Beauty and Light
He comes in the form of pure beauty and light
He silently enters your Dreams.
This being enters your dreams without any noise or disturbance
And to Gently Awake you, he Despones
In order to wake you up gently, this being places something in your mouth
in your Mouth the WET GIFT: Semen Lunae
The thing that is placed in your mouth is a wet gift - the Semen Lunae
Contributed by Daniel P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Berladnic Silen
I found some lyrics related:
Dressed in Beauty and Light
He silently enters your Dreams.
And to Gently Awake you, he Depones
in your Mouth the WET GIFT: Semen Lunae
(Mauro Berchi, 1995)
Berladnic Silen
I think it`s rather Selenis then Selunhs. It may be rong written because it`s written in Greek so it can be a typo or a direct translation of Y by h. It makes sense if it`s selenis angelis, meaning the angels of the moon, selenar angels. Yes, it`s beyond everything terrestrial! One if not all of the amazing vocals belong to Francesca Nicoli, a great Italian artist that sings now in Ataraxia.
neruni
@nemesisfixxed Vampires do not mourn. Banshees do (in folklore). This track has nothing to do with vampires. It's a journey into the unknown realms of darkness and one's inner soul.
Saraiva Toledo
Well said .
neruni
@nemesisfixxed Welcome :) Vampires cry rather than mourn. Mourning is more related to people who behave sadly in that way when they suffer a tragedy or a loss of someone beloved. Since you like vampires i suggest an english goth band - Nosferatu whose songs theme on vampires or vampirism with a romantic touch. Enjoy and take care.