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.
Windfall
Monumentum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Но вижу опять в твоих глазах Остановись
В этот раз я правда поверил, что могу Изменить судьбу
В этот раз я хотел осуществить мечту
Я был не прав я был не прав
Как не искал мне не найти
Способ тебе боли не нанести
Не важно как сильно я люблю
В итоге снова боль причиню
И снова попаду в западню
Я на краю
Я бился из за всех своих сил
И все лишь для тебя
Но принес несчастье, нам двоим
Все повторилось опять
В первый раз я наконец по верил в нас За это отдал все
Но оказалось слишком высока цена
Я был не прав как я не прав
Как не искал мне не найти
Способ тебе боли не нанести
Как не искал мне не найти
Не важно как сильно я люблю
В итоге снова боль причиню
И снова попаду в западню
Я на краю
Без тебя не выносимо
Когда с тобой теряю контроль Страдать уже нет силы
Тебе я причиняю лишь боль
Как не искал мне не найти
Способ тебе боли не нанести
Как не искал мне не найти
Не важно как сильно я люблю
В итоге снова боль причиню
И снова попаду в западню
Я на краю
The lyrics of Monumentum's song Windfall seem to be a declaration of love and dedication to a person, perhaps a significant other, but also reveal the singer's internal conflict and shortcomings. The verses describe how the singer is trying to be everything for this person and not let them down, but sees doubt and pain in their eyes. They confess to having been wrong and wanting to change their fate, to finally make their dreams come true, but ultimately causing pain and repeating the same mistakes. The chorus emphasizes how the singer cannot find a way to not hurt this person, no matter how much they love them and how this situation is putting them on the edge.
The song seems to be a reflection on the fragility of love and how sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we cannot avoid hurting those we care for the most. The singer is torn between their desire to be the perfect partner and their inability to always do so, which puts them in a vulnerable position. The repetition of the phrase "Как не искал мне не найти" (I cannot find a way) highlights this sense of helplessness and frustration, which culminates in the realization that the singer is on the edge of losing everything.
Overall, Windfall is a heartfelt and relatable song about the complexities of love and the human condition. Monumentum's haunting and melodic sound perfectly complements the emotional intensity of the lyrics, making this track a moving and memorable experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Я пытаюсь быть всем для тебя и стараюсь не подвести
I try to be everything for you and strive not to disappoint you.
Но вижу опять в твоих глазах Остановись
But I see in your eyes again, 'Stop.'
В этот раз я правда поверил, что могу Изменить судьбу
This time I really believed that I could change destiny.
В этот раз я хотел осуществить мечту
This time I wanted to fulfill a dream.
Я был не прав я был не прав
I was wrong, I was wrong.
Как не искал мне не найти Способ тебе боли не нанести
No matter how hard I looked, I can't find a way to not hurt you.
Как не искал мне не найти Не важно как сильно я люблю
No matter how hard I looked, it doesn't matter how much I love you.
В итоге снова боль причиню И снова попаду в западню Я на краю
In the end, I will cause pain again and find myself in a dilemma. I'm on the edge.
Я бился из за всех своих сил И все лишь для тебя
I fought with all my might, all for you.
Но принес несчастье, нам двоим Все повторилось опять
But it brought us both misfortune. Everything repeated itself again.
В первый раз я наконец по верил в нас За это отдал все
For the first time, I finally believed in us, and gave everything for it.
Но оказалось слишком высока цена Я был не прав как я не прав
But the price was too high. I was wrong. How wrong I was.
Без тебя не выносимо Когда с тобой теряю контроль Страдать уже нет силы Тебе я причиняю лишь боль
It's unbearable without you, when I lose control with you. I have no strength left to suffer. I only cause you pain.
И снова попаду в западню Я на краю
And again, I find myself in a dilemma. I'm on the edge.
Contributed by Aria C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JANXDPDX
brave cover...great execution.....
Music from the flatland
Hey, when I heard the rythm, I thought it'll sound really lame, when the melody and strings enter. It didn't!Good work on mixing it together. It's actuallly quite cool.
luca ponzoni
I love it too!!! even if I dont play any instruments... ciao nèh... eheheh ;-)
Humanophage
Sounds a bit like Mark Morgan (soundtracks to Planescape: Torment, Fallout, Netstorm, etc.)