Monumentum is an Italian experimental darkwave / atmospheric rock band form… Read Full Bio ↴Monumentum is an Italian experimental darkwave / atmospheric rock band formed by Roberto Mammarella, founder of Obscure Plasma Records (subsequently Avantgarde Music).
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.

Under Monochrome Rainbow
Monumentum Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

SURROUNDED BY DIM LIGHTS I AM,
ALONE AND ISOLATED
AND NOBODY WOULD HELP

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW,
THEY GRANTED A PLACE FOR ME.
BUT HERE, UNDER THE RAINBOW,
THEY STEP ON ME.

I WILL ALWAYS LIVE
DISTANT FROM YOUR BLIND ANGER
SCREAMING ETERNAL SILENCE
IN MY LITTLE WIDE SECRET GARDEN

I DECAY,
I DECAY,

AND YOU EVEN COMPLAIN ?
WITHOUT THE LEAST REGRET

A WALL SEPARATES YOUR ILLUSIONS
QUIETING YOUR STUPID LAUGHS

PROTECTED BY DESTINY AND WIND
SWEET ENEMIES OF MINE
FORGET ABOUT ME

I WILL ALWAYS LIVE
DISTANT FROM YOUR BLIND ANGER
SCREAMING ETERNAL SILENCE
IN MY LITTLE WIDE SECRET GARDEN

I DECAY,

I DECAY,
AND YOU EVEN COMPLAIN ?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Under Monochrome Rainbow" by Monumentum speaks about the feeling of loneliness and isolation. The first stanza depicts a person who is alone and surrounded by dim lights, with no one to help. In the second stanza, a reference is made to the song "Over the Rainbow," where the singer states that somewhere over the rainbow, there is a place for them, but under the rainbow, they are stepped on instead. The third and fourth stanzas suggest the presence of anger, and the singer reaches a point where they accept their loneliness.

The lyrics express a sense of disappointment and isolation from the world around them. There's a feeling of being unimportant, neglected and overlooked in the eyes of others. The reference to the song "Over the Rainbow" suggests that there may be a glimmer of hope, but the harsh reality kicks in. This bitter reality leads to the singer's acceptance of loneliness and the struggle to survive in a world that is indifferent to their needs.

Overall, Under Monochrome Rainbow is a powerful song that vividly portrays the theme of desolation, loneliness, and the ultimate search for acceptance in a cruel and unjust world.

Line by Line Meaning

SURROUNDED BY DIM LIGHTS I AM, ALONE AND ISOLATED AND NOBODY WOULD HELP
I feel lost and abandoned, with no one to turn to for guidance or support.

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW, THEY GRANTED A PLACE FOR ME. BUT HERE, UNDER THE RAINBOW, THEY STEP ON ME.
Although I know there may be hope and happiness out there somewhere, in this reality I am constantly oppressed and overlooked by those around me.

I WILL ALWAYS LIVE DISTANT FROM YOUR BLIND ANGER SCREAMING ETERNAL SILENCE IN MY LITTLE WIDE SECRET GARDEN
I choose to distance myself from others' rage and chaos, creating a peaceful sanctuary within myself that I alone can access and find solace in.

I DECAY, I DECAY,
I am deteriorating and falling apart, both physically and emotionally.

AND YOU EVEN COMPLAIN ? WITHOUT THE LEAST REGRET
Those who have hurt me and continue to disregard my struggles show no remorse or empathy for their actions, making my pain even more unbearable.

A WALL SEPARATES YOUR ILLUSIONS QUIETING YOUR STUPID LAUGHS
Others' narrow-minded beliefs and delusions create a barrier that prevents them from understanding and empathizing with me, silencing their ignorant and hurtful laughter.

PROTECTED BY DESTINY AND WIND SWEET ENEMIES OF MINE FORGET ABOUT ME
I find comfort in the unpredictable and ever-changing nature of fate, despite its painful consequences, as it allows me to be forgotten by those who have hurt me in the past.

I WILL ALWAYS LIVE DISTANT FROM YOUR BLIND ANGER SCREAMING ETERNAL SILENCE IN MY LITTLE WIDE SECRET GARDEN
My peaceful inner world will continue to be my refuge and escape from the harsh reality around me.

I DECAY, I DECAY, AND YOU EVEN COMPLAIN ?
Despite my ongoing struggles and decline, those who have caused me pain continue to show no remorse or understanding, adding insult to injury.

Contributed by Charlotte B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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