Monumension

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Monumension
Studio album by
Released19 November 2001
Recorded2001
GenreBlack metal, Viking metal, progressive metal
Length52:38
LabelOsmose
ProducerEnslaved, Pytten
Enslaved chronology
Mardraum - Beyond the Within
(2000)
Monumension
(2001)
Below the Lights
(2003)

Monumension is the sixth studio album by Norwegian extreme metal band Enslaved. It was released on 19 November 2001, through Osmose Productions.[1][2] It is Enslaved's first album to feature lyrics sung entirely in English, although some versions of the album include the Old Norse track "Sigmundskvadet" as a bonus.

Monumension was the last Enslaved album to feature guitarist R. Kronheim; Arve Isdal would replace him on Below the Lights.

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Ivar Bjørnson, except as noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Convoys to Nothingness" 7:58
2."The Voices" 6:07
3."Vision: Sphere of the Elements – A Monument Part II"Roy Kronheim4:58
4."Hollow Inside"Bjørnson, Trygve Mathiesen5:38
5."The Cromlech Gate"Grutle Kjellson6:55
6."Enemy I" 5:16
7."Smirr" 4:26
8."The Sleep: Floating Diversity – A Monument Part III"Kronheim8:12
9."Outro: Self-Zero" 3:08
10."Sigmundskvadet" (bonus track) 6:59
Total length:59:37

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Chronicles of Chaos7.5/10[4]

From the reviews the album has received, Monumension has been generally well received.

AllMusic praised the album, calling it "astounding" and "truly daring".[3] Chronicles of Chaos's review was generally favorable, though writing, "Monumension occasionally comes across as too over-the-top in terms of its experimentation, and the album as a whole lacks some focus and consistency."[4]

Personnel[edit]

Enslaved
  • Ivar Bjørnson – guitar, synthesizers, organ, piano, special effects, choir vocals on "Sigmundskvadet", production, mixing
  • Christian Kronheim – guitar, vocals, special effects, choir vocals on "Sigmundskvadet", production, mixing
  • Grutle Kjellson – bass guitar, vocals, choir vocals on "Sigmundskvadet", production, mixing
  • Dirge Rep (Per Husebø) – drums, percussion, special effects, choir vocals on "Sigmundskvadet", production, mixing
Additional personnel
  • Dennis Reksten – minimoog synthesizers, keyboards, vocoder, special effects
  • Trygve Mathiesen - lead vocals on "Hollow Inside" and "Sigmundskvadet"
  • Trond Veland - backing vocals on "Vision: Sphere of the Elements – A Monument Part II"
  • Kai Lie – additional choir vocals on "Sigmundskvadet"

Production[edit]

  • Pytten (Eirik Hundvin) – production, recording, engineering
  • Davide Bertolini – recording, engineering
  • Herbrand Larsen – recording, engineering
  • Jørgen Træen – mixing

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ENSLAVED: nuovo album in arrivo". MetalItalia.com. 24 September 2001. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Enslaved's website". Enslavedunion.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2001. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b Serba, John. "Monumension – Enslaved : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  4. ^ a b Azevedo, Pedro (14 January 2002). "CoC : Enslaved – Monumension : Review". Chronicles of Chaos. Retrieved 23 September 2012.