Monument

Monument
Studio album by Grand Magus
Released	October 20 2003
Recorded	January 2003 at Resync Studios in Stockholm, Sweden
Genre	Heavy Metal, Doom Metal
Length	43:43
Label	Rise Above Records
Producer	Oneman, Grand Magus
Grand Magus chronology
Grand Magus (2001)	Monument (2003)	Wolf's Return (2005)

Monument is the second studio album by the Swedish heavy metal band Grand Magus. Recorded with Oneman in Stockholm through the Winter of 2003, it would be released on October 2003 to critical acclaim. Monument is a continuation of the sound established on their eponymous debut, a mix of doom and heavy metal.

Background

Following touring with Orange Goblin and Roadsaw in 2002 and sporadic gigs, Grand Magus would announce that work would begin on a second album on 30 August 2002. The album would be announced to be nearly finished by 29 January 2003, as the band embarked on a short tour with Abramis Brama. Further details would be revealed through the Summer, ultimately with the album's release on CD circa 20 October 2003. A release party would be hosted on 24 October 2003 at Club Rocks in Tivoli, Stockholm. This would follow with gigs alongside Abramis Brama, Generous Maria, Cathedral and Krux.

Monument would later be released in the United States through The Music Cartel in 2004. In Japan, JVC Victor would release Monument on 21 May 2004 with "Stonecircle" (From Demo Two Thousand) as a bonus track. Monument would see reissues in 2010 via Metal Blade Records and Rise Above Records, along with it's first vinyl issue in 2014.

Monument would garner critical praise upon release. The October 2003 issue of Terrorizer would list "Monument" as their album of the month. Notable reviews at the time of release included the likes of Doom-Alive, Kerrang (4/5), Ultimate Metal (9/10), Metal Review (92/100) and Daredevil Records (10/10). Monument would rank #13 on Stonerrock.com's Top 23 Albums of 2003.

With it's reissues, Monument would garner further critical acclaim. Pete Pardo of Sea of Tranquility, awarding the re-issue 4.5 Stars, would note the band's balance of doom, classic rock and heavy metal throughout. Adam Kohman, writing for Metal Crypt and awarding a 3.75/5 score, would note the band's evolving sound and especially praise "Food of The Gods", stating that it "has the gritty, southern vibe of their early years, but right from the opening solo, it spits at you with dynamic rebelliousness.".

A review of Your Last Rites would give the record high praise, stating that Monument is "a work of accidental genius. It’s almost as if they set out to create a straight-up doom album, but their cracking energy simply couldn’t be contained within such borders. Their power metal aspirations were but a glint in their collective eye, a result of circumstance rather than of ambition. As such, Monument represents the best cross-section of what Grand Magus has to offer: deceptively-simplistic anthems, doomed-down crawlers, and that oh-so-glorious happy medium." The review would close stating "Monument captures Grand Magus at their brightest–a moment of bulletproof naivety. This is as clear-cut and obvious as it gets, people: If you like heavy metal, you should own this album. No qualifiers, no prerequisites, no excuses. This shit is essential. Get on it.".

Tracklist

• 1. Ulvaskall (Vargr) (5:45)
• 2. Summer Solstice (3:58)
• 3. Brotherhood of Sleep (5:40)
• 4. Baptised in Fire (8:11)
• 5. Chooser of The Slain (Valfader) (5:19)
• 6. Food of The Gods (4:21)
• 7. He Who Seeks... Shall Find (10:29)

Personnel

• JB - Guitar, Lead Vocals
• Fox - Bass, Backing Vocals
• Trisse - Drums, Backing Vocals
• Oneman - Ancient Instruments, Recording, Mixing, Producer
• Hugh Gilmour - Artwork, Design

External Links

• Discogs
• Monument on Rise Above Records' Official Page