One of two bands (TesseracT is the other) to be born out of the dissolution of British djent pioneers Fellsilent, London-based transcontinental groove/progressive metal outfit Monuments originated as a side project of John Browne (Fellsilent) and Josh Travis (Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza) before morphing into a full-blown touring and recording entity. The group's 2012 Century Media debut, Gnosis, garnered international attention with its heady blend of djent-fueled riffing and hook-laden yet incredibly complex melodies, resulting in the group expanding to a quintet in 2014 with the subtraction of Travis and the addition of Chris Barretto (Periphery), Olly Steele, Adam Swan, and Mike Malyan. Monuments' second long-player for Century Media, the punishing Amanuensis, arrived that same year. Citing injuries to his back and shoulder, drummer Mike Malyan left the group the following year, and was replaced by Anup Sastry, who made his studio debut on the band's third studio long-player, 2018's Phronesis. ~ James Christopher Monger