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Personnel:
Helle Bohdanova – vocals
Yevhenii Zhytniuk – keyboards
Dmytro Vinnichenko – guitars
Oleksandr Kamyshyn – bass
Production: Jacob Hansen (mixing and mastering)
Release Date: October 23, 2026
Record Label: Napalm Records
Three years after Dreams of Lands Unseen, Ukrainian metal band IGNEA return with their new album, Monumental, released through Napalm Records. Recorded during the ongoing war in Ukraine, with freezing temperatures and long power outages making things even harder, the album explores nostalgia, memories, and dreams of a future that never came to be. Across nine tracks, IGNEA bring together their familiar heavy sound with industrial and electronic influences.
I can’t imagine a better way to start this album than what IGNEA has done with the first track of Monumental. It’s not just about the common practice of having a calm introduction that eventually blows into a full metal song. It’s the atmosphere within the music that makes it so transformative. You could be angry, happy, sad, or mad at your stupid-ass manager at work (very specific, but let’s move on), and within seconds you’ll find yourself going, “Oh, wait a minute.” And once the heavier music kicks in, you’re already fully immersed in IGNEA’s world. The rest of the album doesn’t disappoint, with amazing vocal performances, beautiful melodies, powerful riffs, and a great balance between the heavy and softer moments.
If you’re into any of these artists, this album should be on your radar.
The artwork captures the album’s concept beautifully, combining a sense of greatness with the sadness of something that has been left behind. There’s an interesting contrast between the past and the future, making you wonder whether you’re looking at the remains of an old civilization or a glimpse of a future that never happened. It fits the nostalgic atmosphere of Monumental perfectly.
IGNEA do a great job of keeping the music interesting with different approaches to their song introductions. While “Dreams of Lands Unseen” wastes no time getting into the heavy riffs, “Presence of the Past” begins with a gentle, almost serenading melody before suddenly exploding into a much heavier sound. The electronic beats in “What Buildings Dream of” also work really well alongside the guitars, adding a different flavor to the music. The guitar work itself deserves some praise, especially in “Between No Longer and Not Yet,” where the beautiful oriental melodies add so much richness to the song. The album also has some excellent heavier moments, with powerful riffs and drums that complement the melodic parts without overpowering them.
Remember earlier when we talked about how IGNEA create an atmosphere that pulls us into their world, instead of their music coming to us? Well, Helle’s voice plays a huge role in that too. It’s one thing to hit the right notes and deliver some powerful growls, but it’s another thing to make people feel the ideas and emotions behind the music. And Helle does both so damn well. Her clean vocals are just as powerful as her growls, and the way she uses both really adds to the whole experience. The guests also do a great job, with Combichrist’s Andy LaPlegua bringing his own flavor to “Prefab” and Britta Görtz of HIRAES adding even more power to “Harmony Manufactured.”
Nostalgia is a very important part of human emotions, and even our civilization. It’s interesting how something from the past can still affect us today, whether it’s a personal memory, an old building, or even a future people once imagined but never got to see. IGNEA explore all of this on Monumental, and they’ve done an excellent job of making the music express these ideas. The melodies carry that feeling of nostalgia beautifully, while the heavier parts and the changes in atmosphere bring out its different emotions, from sadness to excitement. The music tells as much of the story as the lyrics do.
An album about memories that will surely live long in the memory. With music this powerful and a concept this well developed, IGNEA have given us an album that lives up to its name. Monumental in every sense of the word.
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Night walks
a perfect companion for an evening of thoughts under the moon
Enjoying nature
especially if you have a special place to sit and think
Working
perfect mood adjustment therapy for corporate shittiness
Art creation
great sonic art can inspire other great forms of art
I agree it’s a great album and I love the way you write the review. Harmony Manufactured with Britta is my favorite