ALBUM REVIEW: Monumental – Ignea

There’s a lot riding on the shoulders of IGNEA. Alongside their fellow countrymen in JINJER, they’ve found themselves operating almost as standard bearers for their homeland, and it’s nigh on impossible to objectively review their work in isolation. The Ukrainian four piece have been thrust into the spotlight ever since the start of the Russian invasion, and so long as the war grinds on, they’ll likely be seen as a rallying point as much as a band. Still, we’ll give it a go.

Monumental is their fourth album overall and second since the war started, recorded during the 2025/26 winter in Kyiv. During this period, the city was under threat of missile attacks and power outages, so the mere fact they were able to complete it is impressive enough. But even if you remove it from those circumstances, it’s an intriguing listen. It’s a mix of symphonic, death, and groove metal, with hefty amounts of retro synths swirling around too. The band have taken inspiration from Cold War futurism and architecture, and it’s a deeply atmospheric listen. Close your eyes during Presence Of The Past and you’ll find yourself being shuttled along a dystopian monorail to take your place in a death metal mosh pit.

This is an album infused with melancholy, and which possesses an almost art-rock vibe. What Buildings Dream Of starts with a hypnotic, ethereal passage before some fuzzy bass beats drop you into the heart of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, while Prefab comes across like a cyberpunk freakout in the belly of a slum. This track sees COMBICHRIST joining them for an aggressive, circle-triggering collaboration, and it’s incredible. It’s a razor-edged riot among the smokestacks, with singer Helle Bohdanova altering her voice for an unsettling, robotic effect.

In contrast, the beautiful I Am In Hell shows another side to IGNEA. It’s a soft, piano-led ballad that is much nicer than its title would suggest, although there’s also something off about it. It’s like a song that’s been transported in from a different time, and would be great one to play just before the windows of Rapture break and the ocean rushes in. Then there’s the lengthy Between No Longer And Not Yet, an offbeat blend of prog metal and the soundtrack to an un-filmed desert adventure movie. It’s big, innovative, and akin to picking your way through Art Deco ruins that are slowly being consumed in a sandstorm.

Monumental is aptly named. It’s a big and intriguing album that finds IGNEA pushing their creative impulses as far as they can go. What it isn’t though, is a crowd pleaser. Its immediate predecessor – 2023’s Dreams Of Lands Unseen – was packed with catchy hooks and memorable choruses that made it an instant hit. Monumental doesn’t land immediately. It takes a couple of play throughs for it to sink in, and some of these tracks do stretch things a bit far. There’s a good chance that this might be a step too far for some fans, and while Monumental is impressive, it’s likely to be divisive. This one is a grower, treat it with patience. There’s an abundance of creativity and it’ll work neck muscles and grey matter equally.

Rating: 8/10

Monumental is set for release on October 23rd via Napalm Records. 

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