As Monuments unleash In Stasis, their most progressive and accomplished record to date, they do so into a landscape unlikely to welcome them with open arms. Balancing the fine line between metal and prog, their position is arguably too precarious for mass appeal, but guitarist John Browne tells Prog that, with patience and an open mind, listeners will find something to love in the unknown.

Words: Phil Weller

Monuments: it’s prog, but maybe not as you know it.

Image: Joeseth Carter

On their first album in four years, Monuments’ blend of prog metal seamlessly fuses bruising brutality, soaring vocal hooks and a mosaic of time signatures.New vocalist Andy Cizek marks his arrival in scintillating style, his razor-sharp hooks and seismic range a perfect fit for the band. With the addition of co-producer Mick Gordon, whose iconic soundtracks to the Doom video games have made him a lauded name in metal circles, adding immense depth and detail to the mix, In Stasis represents a band reaching new heights. Yet, despite their accomplishments, Browne admits that there will be those who find Monuments’ music too heavy to be prog and too proggy to be deemed metal. So where do they fit in?