Monumental

Echoing nostalgia for a future that never arrives on Monumental!
IGNEA explores nostalgia in all its forms on their upcoming studio album, Monumental, set for release on October 23, 2026, via Napalm Records. Following Dreams of Lands Unseen (2023), the Ukrainian four-piece navigate through unique facets of the past across nine tracks—from the grandeur and ambition of Cold War space dreams to the melancholy of urban decay and forgotten modernist structures, all the way to the emotional weight of personal and collective memory. All lyrics on Monumental were written by vocalist Helle Bohdanova. The music was composed by keyboardist Yevhenii Zhytniuk, with additional contributions from Helle Bohdanova. Mixing and mastering were handled by Grammy Award-nominated producer Jacob Hansen, known for his work with bands such as DELAIN, Amaranthe, Volbeat, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, and Epica. Monumental is IGNEA’s second full-length album that was written during the full-scale war in Ukraine. The recording process mostly took place in the winter of 2025-2026, during icy temperatures and long power outages in Kyiv.
Musically, Monumental blends technical metal riffs, industrial textures, atmospheric interludes, grandiose choruses, and melodic passages to mirror “nostalgic rides,” where darkness, reflection, and awe collide. Visually and conceptually, IGNEA drew inspiration from retrofuturism, modernist and monumental architecture, and industrial design, creating a world where sound, imagery, and memory converge. The album stands as an ode to the past, a meditation on lost and unrealized futures, and a celebration of the enduring beauty hidden within forgotten places. The opening track, “Darkness,” sets the emotional tone, capturing the nostalgic escapes we all drift into when the present feels overwhelming and the past seems gentler than it truly was. The song moves between eerie, melancholic verses and uplifting, grandiose choruses, culminating in a cathartic moment featuring a live choir and blast beats. Bursting with energy from the outset, “Dreams of Lands Unseen” explores the era of Cold War space exploration—a time when humanity projected its greatest hopes onto the cosmos. March-like choruses echo the propaganda-fueled optimism of the age, while shimmering keyboards and theremin solos channel a distinct 1980s atmosphere. It is followed by “Presence of the Past,” IGNEA’s ode to urban decadence—the bittersweet sensation of living in a city that is constantly changing, decaying, rebuilding, forgetting, and remembering ...