Ukrainian modern metal force IGNEA have unveiled the official video for their new single, “Dreams of Lands Unseen”, the first track released from their forthcoming album Monumental, due out October 23, 2026 via Napalm Records.
The new single revisits the themes explored on the band’s 2023 album Dreams of Lands Unseen while pushing into new creative territory. Inspired by the Cold War-era space race, the track reflects on a period when humanity projected its greatest hopes and ambitions into the cosmos. Musically, the song blends driving modern metal riffs, aggressive growls, atmospheric keyboards, and theremin passages that evoke the retro-futuristic spirit of 1980s science fiction.
Vocalist Helle Bohdanova described the song as an exploration of “the blend of ambition and illusion” that defined the era’s vision of space exploration. The accompanying black-and-white video was intentionally filmed to capture the atmosphere of classic science-fiction cinema rather than contemporary blockbuster aesthetics.
The video features actors wearing authentic Soviet-era space helmets and components of original space suits sourced from Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studios in Kyiv. Tragically, the costume workshop housing approximately 100,000 historical pieces was destroyed during a Russian strike on Kyiv on June 14-15, 2026, the same attack that also damaged IGNEA’s headquarters.
A Reflection On Nostalgia And Lost Futures
Monumental marks the band’s second full-length album written during the ongoing war in Ukraine. Much of the recording process took place during the winter of 2025-2026 amid freezing temperatures and extended power outages in Kyiv.
According to Bohdanova, the album examines nostalgia as both a universal emotion and a potentially destructive force. Drawing inspiration from modernist architecture, monumental concrete structures, industrial design, and retrofuturism, the record explores visions of futures that never materialized.
The album’s title reflects its thematic focus on decaying monuments to progress—architectural symbols of brighter tomorrows that now stand as reminders of unrealized dreams. Across nine tracks, IGNEA navigate themes ranging from Cold War optimism and urban decay to personal memory and collective longing.
Keyboardist Yevhenii Zhytniuk composed the majority of the music, while Bohdanova penned all lyrics. Mixing and mastering duties were handled by acclaimed producer Jacob Hansen, known for his work with Amaranthe, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, Epica, and Volbeat.
Monumental Track Listing
- Darkness
- Dreams of Lands Unseen
- Presence of the Past
- Prefab (feat. Combichrist)
- What Buildings Dream Of
- I Am In Hell
- Between No Longer and Not Yet
- Harmony Manufactured (feat. Hiiraes)
- Nadir
Available Formats
- CD Jewelcase
- Digital Album
- Solid Silver Vinyl
- Limited Splatter Vinyl with LP-sized booklet
- CD + T-shirt bundle
- Various Napalm Records exclusive editions
European Tour With EVERGREY
Following the album’s release, IGNEA will join Evergrey on the Architects Of A New Weave European Tour 2026 alongside Stellar Circuits. The extensive trek begins November 11 in Lund, Sweden and concludes December 12 in Maastricht, Netherlands, with stops across Scandinavia, Central Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Since emerging as one of Ukraine’s most innovative metal acts, IGNEA have earned acclaim for combining modern metal, symphonic elements, folk influences, and cinematic storytelling. With Monumental, the band continue to expand their sonic and thematic horizons while documenting both personal and collective experiences through the lens of nostalgia, memory, and resilience.