Monument cover

Monument

Grand Magus · 2003

43 min · 7 tracks · heavy metal

Raw riffs and thunderous drums combine with soaring vocals to create a powerful, anthemic heavy metal experience.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Ulvaskall (Vargr) — The opening track sets an intense tone for the album with its driving rhythms and haunting melodies, showcasing the band's fusion of power and heaviness.
  • →
    Baptised in Fire — This track exemplifies the band's epic songwriting style, featuring a blend of aggressive instrumentation and lyrical themes of transformation and rebirth.
  • →
    Chooser of the Slain (Valfader) — A standout track that combines atmospheric elements with crushing riffs, illustrating Grand Magus's ability to balance melody and heaviness effectively.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

48 /100
Foothills
Higher than 19% of albums we've rated

The album features strong riffs and varied vocal styles but lacks standout tracks that elevate it beyond its genre.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a high energy level, which is maintained through the first four songs before slowing down slightly in the latter half.
  • Vocals often alternate between soaring melodies and aggressive shouts, creating a dynamic contrast throughout the tracks.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 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

What to play next

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2001
Full Grand Magus discography Artists like Grand Magus
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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata