CoC : Monument - The Millennial Death of Success : Review

Monument - _The Millennial Death of Success_
(Independent, 2001)
by: Adrian Bromley (8 out of 10)

If Monument singer Kirk Callaway had to round up the troops to pick a certain style of metal music to play and stick with it, I don't think he and his band could do it. I don't think I would want them to do it. Why ruin something good when it all seems to be headed in the right direction? Monument's third release _The Millennial Death of Success_ is a wonderful array of song vocal styles, prog/power metal musicianship and an old school thrash element that just seems to shape this into a stellar release from all angles. Right from the in-your-face assault of opener "Guilt Is the Sin", the guys have you by the throat, dragging your ass right into the thick of things. And while the power metal aspect of their sound is obviously one of the draws of this band, their metallic heaviness and doom-like groove at times adds a real treat for the listener with _TMDoS_. With the success of such bands as Iced Earth and Nevermore in the past few years, I can definitely see fans of those two acts latching onto Monument and being excited about what they are provided here with. While Monument are still on an independent level, they could easily pass for a signed act on the Century Media or Metal Blade roster. I can only imagine what better production would do to this already impressive sounding disc. Monument are indeed a talented independent act that know the importance of honing your skills with years of practice and taking the time to let the buzz build. Good things are surely coming their way.

Contact: P.O. Box 892881 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73189, USA

(article published 13/5/2001)