Interview with Monumentum

In the following lines, you can read about pure feelings, about mournful lives, about people really knowing what they're dealing with and also about a forthcoming death to the weak christian-followers. MONUMENTUM is the "code-word". For sure the Gods of Italy, and also some of the best and purest music available. This interview was done by an immortal friend of mine, Morten, and if you read further on you can study the MONUMENTUM ways...if you dare drown in your tears....

(This interview is with Roberto M., now the head of Avantgarde Records. - Ed.)

1. First of all Roberto, please give us a few words about your band's history and who's playing (in the band) at the moment?

"MUSAEUM HERMETICUM" is getting a quite good response in Italy, but Monomentum is (actually) a project born back in 1988. Various people have been involved and the band was split up as well for several months (1 year and a half...). I created it with Duman on bass, Moxx on drums and Mark on vocals (I played guitar and synth.) We recorded in 1989 the (first) demo, (which had) a poor following in the rest of the world. After the demo was recorded, several negative situations came into the band, carrying us to a more or less definite split-up. I wished to reform the band (or better, to re-start the project) in late 1991, but I'm the only original member. We are actually in three creatures. (I don't know what this means - Ed.)

2. I know (have seen? - Ed.) the masterpiece "MONUMENTUM/ROTTING CHRIST split 7". Have Monomentum released other demo's, or EP's?

I basically answered this in the previous question...still about the EP, it was just a "HISTORICAL_EXHUMATION", as all the songs are quite old, (the Rotting Christ one too, even if specially recorded). The sound quality is poor too, as the master tape was hanging around the catacombs of my castle for something like 3 years....a real mummy...the only meaning of this record is: The Monomentum coffin has been opened again....

3. I believe you have some connection to OBSCURE PLASME Rec. or..?

(As far as I know, this is the little label that later evolved into Avantgarde Records - Ed.)

Eh, it seems like it! No...well, it's my label, we only have released six 7" records and one live LP (of the best band on the planet...), but we're going to become more serious in 1993. This doesn't mean 'wimping out', because we'll sign only true DARK_DOOM_BLACK bands, but that we'll try to make things faster and more serious (only LP+CD's and no more 7" records).

A completely obscure picture of Monumentum

4. How is the scene in Italy now, talking about Black/Melancholic bands?

We had a quite good dark metal/melancholic wave of bands in the years 1985-88. Actually there's only one black metal band, called Mortuary Drape. Iconoclast is maybe the best death metal band, but if we're talking about strictly dark- black...well...(there's a) total lack (of good bands). There are a few good death metal bands, but they are looking for an American death metal sound, which pisses me off. You know, people who pass their days hoping that one morning the mail box will enclose a record deal from Earache or Nuclear Blast. Oh, Italian little dreamers....

5.You are going to release your debut album "IN ABSENTIA CHRISTI" on DSP in 1993. How did you actually get that deal?

It's kind of a secret between me and Euronymous, but substantially, I guess that Euronymous liked our music! It's always ('really'? - Ed.) a strange and courageous choice for DSP, because actually we are nothing in the actual "scene" (if this word has a meaning...), and he could sell a lot more records of some typical swedish death metal band...we praise him.

6.Your music is extremely depressive and mournful. Is that something that reflects back from your personal lives? I mean...to me it seems that one would have to be a very depressed person to create such music...

Yes it does. The persons involved in Monumentum both in the past and present are not examples of happiness of living. Mark for example, is one of the most frustrated and depressed persons I (have) ever known. He really can't find a meaning for an earthly human life. Actually he works in Milano's Central Morgue: he washes and dresses cadavers after car accidents and autopsies. And this (only) increases his completely cold personality. I think that you must feel this kind of music in your body and brain before handling the instruments. It's not music just for 'perfect musicians and skilled composers': Gloom mood before technique.

7. MONOMENTUM's lyric seems to be quite mystical. What are they about? Take for instance a song like "NEPHTALI"?

'Nephtali' is a really particular ('peculiar'? -Ed.) lyric co-written with a great friend of mine called "Derec from the fog". Monomentum lyrics are based on various subjects, but with a common shade: a deep to-the-bones-depression of living, and a ferocious anti-christian devotion. We live maybe in the most fanatical country of Europe (when it comes to) the christian religion. The Vatican lays here...this is our damnation, and this is also a big negative influence on our lyrics. We also include many historical references from past empires and ancient religions.

8. Let's discuss another subject. Do you think there will be a WORLD WAR 3? If so, which countries will start it and when do you think it will happen? Would it be a nuclear war with a total extinction of mankind?

(Believe it or not, back in the mid-to-late '80s and early '90s, 'nuclear war' was still considered a viable topic for discussion, as many bands were still singing or writing about this old heavy metal standard. - Ed.)

There will be many local civil wars I think. Europe is burning: The fall of communistic governments in the U.S.S.R, Albania, Romania, East Germany, Yugoslavia, etc. was not the best possible thing at all. First because the 'life conditions' and economic situations for these countries like Germany, France, Sweden and Italy. (what? - Ed.) This will follow into civil wars I think. I am waiting with anxiety the moment when someone will start to shoot in the streets in Italy as (they did) 20 years ago. Concerning your particual question, I don't think there will be a whole W.W.3, not in the next 10 years at least. Countries have too many internal troubles to fight with others. At least this is the situation in Europe, while in the Middle East and Arabian countries anything is possible, because they are mentally ill. Anyway, if there would be a W.W. 3, I think Germany would start it or Japan. (The) Japanese are psychopaths and meaningless individuals and I really hope that this country will disappear soon in the Pacific Ocean...(ah...and they say metal musicians don't know what's going on! Imagine that! - Ed.)

9. What Norwegian bands have you heard? I know that you have been to Norway, what do you think about this icy country in the high north? At least we have great beer here, don't you think?

Let me say one thing first: I have the "mania" of Norway since I was 12 years old. It's something that goes over ('beyond'? - Ed.) the presence of so (many) godly bands. Norway has always been my favourite country in the world. Many guys are interested in it now, and come there in (the) summer just because they are fascinated by the Norwegian bands. I would come there to live eternally. Then the fact that there are so many great bands just increases my opinion of Norway. To prove this, I tell you that I have been two times to Norway for one month each (time) and I stayed there 'hanging' through fjords, forests, lakes, and small towns without meeting any of my pals in bands I'm in contact with. I stayed there as a 'normal Norwegian', absorbed by your country. Don't take me for a stupid tourist with the camera hanging on my neck, as a Japanese. It's a different situation. Speaking of bands, I would say, (there are) too many to mention! But Mayhem, Arcturus, Burzum, Malfeitor, Godsend, Belzebub, Darkthrone...this is hell! Hell inferno. I dislike some bands as well: Immortal, Red Harvest....don't hang me for (not liking) Immortal, but it's my opinion! It's still a little bit mysterious why and how some bands who are now playing black metal, were playing techno-death with rock influences a couple (of) years ago....

10. I don't know if you have heard anything about Norse Mythology (Thor & Odin and the other gods, or Valhalla) since you're from Italy, but I would be glad if you had.

I (have) heard (of them), but to tell you the truth I still haven't got the chance to study the argument (in a deeper manner). There's a friend of mine here who is total maniacal (fan) of your mythology, so with his help, I will for sure enter the world of 'Valhalla knowledge' in the near future.

11. Okay, say hello to people you like/hate or finish this anyway you want!

Ave Agina Taran, Ave Thamuz, Ave Euronymous, Ave Metallion, Count Grishnachk: Where are you? Ave Morten. To humanity: Live in Absentia Christi. Don't procreate anymore human reptiles, I dream a slow self-extinction. I cry for the children, not for the dead.