Ukrainian modern metal four-piece IGNEA explores nostalgia in all its forms on their upcoming studio album, Monumental, set for release on October 23, 2026, via Napalm Records. Following Dreams of Lands Unseen (2023), the Ukrainian four-piece navigate through unique facets of the past across nine tracks—from the grandeur and ambition of Cold War space dreams to the melancholy of urban decay and forgotten modernist structures, all the way to the emotional weight of personal and collective memory. All lyrics on Monumental were written by vocalist Helle Bohdanova. The music was composed by keyboardist Yevhenii Zhytniuk, with additional contributions from Helle Bohdanova. Mixing and mastering were handled by Grammy Award-nominated producer Jacob Hansen, known for his work with bands such as DELAIN, Amaranthe, Volbeat, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, and Epica.
 
On Monumental, IGNEA takes the listener on nostalgic rides, with all their ups and downs, expressed in music and lyrics, carrying a sense of gentle sadness and reflection, as nostalgia can bring back beautiful memories, darkened by the awareness that these moments will never happen again.
 
Helle Bohdanova says about Monumental:
“Back in the 17th century, nostalgia was considered a deadly disease—and in many ways, it still is. It’s a universal feeling experienced by every human being, pulling us toward a past that felt gentler than it truly was, especially during the bitter moments of the present. Much of this album was inspired by modernist architecture—concrete giants built to signal progress and a brighter future, now slowly decaying. They’ve become a sort of memory box: monuments to unrealized dreams, where the future that was once imagined never arrived, yet continues to echo through the ruins and bright mosaics.”

Monumental is IGNEA’s second full-length album that was written during the full-scale war in Ukraine. The recording process mostly took place in the winter of 2025-2026, during icy temperatures and long power outages in Kyiv.

Monumental tracklisting:

1. Darkness     
2. Dreams of Lands Unseen     
3. Presence of the Past             
4. Prefab (feat. Combichrist)
5. What Buildings Dream of    
6. I am in Hell 
7. Between No Longer and Not Yet      
8. Harmony Manufactured (feat. Hiraes)
9. Nadir

Photo: Lame Perfect