Gnosis

Gnosis serves as the debut full-length from British tech-metal outfit Monuments, arriving at the height of the 'djent' movement. Produced by founding guitarist John Browne, the album is a showcase for his signature 'percussive' riffing style, which influenced a generation of progressive metal guitarists. The recording history is famously fraught; after the departure of original vocalists Neema Askari and Greg Pope, Matt Rose was brought in late in the process to re-write and record all vocals. This resulted in a unique tension between the long-established instrumental compositions and Rose's fresh melodic sensibilities. The album is notable for its high-definition production and its focus on groove over pure speed, distinguishing it from the tech-death peers of the time. Despite the last-minute removal of the track 'Memoirs' due to licensing issues, Gnosis remains a cohesive and influential document of modern progressive metal.