Nad Sylvan has enjoyed a decade-long stint in my music library and rambling writings at Angry Metal Guy. His “vampire” trilogy (Courting the Widow, The Bride Said No and The Regal Bastard) offers a charming platter of 70s-influenced progressive rock, but I immediately found the twee successor entitled Spiritus Mundi irritating; so I promptly handed off the review to someone else. But the passage of four years – and the exit of the intervening reviewer – sees my return to the musical realms of this bold Swede. Where has his heartfelt muse led him on 2025’s Monumentata?
On first listen, you’d be forgiven for thinking Sylvan had simplified his songwriting. But on subsequent listens, you’d learn that his hand has instead become more subtle and less ‘progressive.’ The songs on Monumentata are shorter, streamlined, and linear, featuring a poppy cadence. But they still draw from a blend of influences, this time encompassing prog and alt rock, funk, and jazz. And there’s a tangible texture and depth to their compositions. “That’s Not Me” benefits from lively counter-pointing keyboard and guitar melodies, and I love the mini-crescendo from 2:45 on “Monte Carlo Priceless” as Sylvan’s vocals escalate amid the loudening drums and delicate streams of electric guitar. Likewise, “Flowerland” clashes layers of vocal counter-melodies into a climactic finale. It feels like the thinking man’s pop, similar to but nothing like Tears for Fears. Sylvan is proven not just an excellent instrumentalist but an accomplished composer. Monumentata sounds simple on first listen, but there are layers behind that simplicity and the more you listen, the more you hear.
Sylvan ordinarily oozes nerdiness, but here he oozes cool. As much as I love progressive rock, so often it’s overwrought and feels like the product of a significant effort. But on Monumentata, his songwriting has never felt so slick or effortless. Both “Secret Love” and “That’s Not Me” open the record with sharp, crunchy leads, prioritizing The Riff in a way that he hasn’t previously. Even when those riffs morph into something more technical, befitting a writer grounded in prog, they complement the passages they fit into. While swooshing synths and the piano bulk out the songs’ textures, Sylvan focuses here on guitar and vocal melodies. And though his bluesy, nasally voice has always been his signature, prominently layering this at the top of the mix indicates a man completely at ease with himself. The songs still revolve around the recognizably melodramatic stories, but they’re more comfortable and easier to enjoy. It’s the sound of a man with swagger in his stride.
But above all, Monumentata succeeds because it converges around memorable, individualistic songs. Each has a clear style and hook that separates it from the remainder. “Secret Lover” and “That’s Not Me” demonstrate a newfound interest in guitar riffs, while “Monte Carlo Priceless” pursues a beautifully serene tone. Meanwhile, “Wildfire” has a grand chorus and operates as the album’s fulcrum. “Make Somebody Proud” is jazzy. “I’m Stepping Out” is funky. “Monumentata” is exquisitely mournful. Each track has a place in the album’s flow (even if not every song is great; “I’m Stepping Out” is an obvious weakness). Monumentata feels like a return to the variety of Sylvan’s vampire trilogy because while Spiritus Mundi was more tonally steady, it wasn’t as good. The corresponding weakness with this approach is that this record doesn’t always feel very consistent or cohesive. Nonetheless, it remains hard to deny a release that collects good songs.
2025 sees Sylvan hitting a rich vein of form as Monumentata is enjoyably melodic and slickly composed. Though it takes repetition for the hooks to sink in and for the intricate compositions to reveal themselves, the music is so slick that my criticisms easily wash off. It invokes a mild sense of wonder and joy. It’s not a record designed to hit the joy receptors within seconds, but it is a record that generates more joy the more time you spend with it. Experimental rock and pop fans will surely find plenty to enjoy here.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 11 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps MP3
Label: Inside Out Music
Websites: nadsylvan.com | facebook.com/nadsylvan
Releases Worldwide: June 27th, 2025
The post Nad Sylvan – Monumentata Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.
