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.
The Colour Of Compassion
Monumentum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
as i lay back staring into the emptiness
when the emptiness stared back
I shiver, because somehow i know
for the emptiness was offering me...
a future position in misery's front row
In misery
In misery's front row
Hit it
You took my innocence
and put it flat on the ground
Then I couldn't hear a single thing here in the darkness
except a six inch heel, sounding sound.
I began trembling
so sweet, yet so vile
And the scent of them now, barefoot luscious soles
Just makes me want to go fucking crazy
because i want to taste them
Yes, I want to taste them
And I want to sniff them
Yes, I want to sniff them
Wont you please let me sniff them?
Please
Let me, let me taste them
Wont you please let me taste them
You took my red black heel
Yes you took it
You took my red black heel
And you painted it grey
You took my red black heel
Yes you took it
You took my red black heel
And you painted it grey
You took my red black heel
Yes you took it
You took my red black heel
And you painted it grey
The opening line of "Cold weather, comes creeping in through the cracks" sets up a metaphorical foundation for "The Colour of Compassion" by Monumentum. The "cold weather" could represent a sense of loneliness or desolation that the subject feels creeping in their life, and the "cracks" an opening in their sense of self that they have not been able to fill. The following lines suggest that the subject is reflecting on their past for clues to their present situation. They see the emptiness of their life and perhaps feel as if it is staring back at them. They shiver because the emptiness is offering them a future position in misery's front row. They are aware that their bleak present may only be a precursor to an even darker future.
The second half of the song is more direct, and the lyrics take on a more perceptible meaning. It appears as if the singer is addressing someone who took something from them and left them with nothingness. The reference to the "six-inch heel" could be suggesting that this person is a dominatrix or a prostitute who has taken something meaningful from the singer. They feel a sense of desire for this person and want to experience them again, even though they know it is harmful. The line "You took my red black heel, and you painted it grey" could be interpreted as the person stealing something that was once novel and exciting and dulling its color, indicating the harm they have caused. Overall, the song seems to be about the impact of past relationships, and how they can shape the present and influence the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold weather, comes creeping in through the cracks.
The cold weather slowly seeps into my surroundings through the smallest spaces and gaps.
as i lay back staring into the emptiness
I settled back, gazing at the void and nothingness around me.
when the emptiness stared back
The abyss appeared to look right back at me.
I shiver, because somehow i know
I tremble with a sense of foreboding, as if I'm aware of something negative.
for the emptiness was offering me...
The black hole seemed to be inviting me to something ominous.
a future position in misery's front row
It was suggesting that I would have a prominent role in despair to come.
In misery
I was to be in great pain.
In misery's front row
I would have a front-row seat to my own suffering.
In misery
It was to be a terrible experience.
Hit it
Begin the music.
You took my innocence
You robbed me of my purity and virtue.
and put it flat on the ground
You discarded it like something worthless and insignificant.
Then I couldn't hear a single thing here in the darkness
I was rendered deaf in the pitch-black surroundings.
except a six inch heel, sounding sound.
The only audible occurrence was the noise of a high-heeled shoe.
I began trembling
I started to shake uncontrollably.
so sweet, yet so vile
The sensation was pleasurable, yet repugnant at the same time.
And the scent of them now, barefoot luscious soles
The aroma emanating from them, soft and fragrant bare feet.
Just makes me want to go fucking crazy
It drives me insane with desire.
because i want to taste them
I crave to sample them with my tongue.
Yes, I want to taste them
My yearning to experience it is intense.
And I want to sniff them
I also desire to smell them.
Yes, I want to sniff them
I'm desperate to catch their scent.
Wont you please let me sniff them?
Can I please have the opportunity to smell them?
Please
I implore you to let me.
Let me, let me taste them
Allow me to taste these things I seek.
Wont you please let me taste them
I beg you to permit me this gratification.
You took my red black heel
You took my shoe that was once red and black.
Yes you took it
You took it from me and now it's gone.
And you painted it grey
You changed its color to a desolate gray.
You took my red black heel
You took my shoe that used to be red and black.
Yes you took it
You took it from me and it's nowhere to be seen.
You took my red black heel
My shoe was taken from me by you.
And you painted it grey
You altered the shoe's color into a bleak gray tone.
Contributed by Aria R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mothman1983
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