French progressive doom/death metal band Monolithe announce new full-length album »Agalma« and premiere first single »Unknown Stellar Samples«

Paris, France based progressive doom/death metal band Monolithe premiere the first single »Unknown Stellar Samples« taken from their upcoming full-length album, »Agalma«, set to release on January 22nd, 2027 through Psalmodist Records.

»Unknown Stellar Samples« is now available on all major streaming platforms!

Tracklist:
01. Intro: Unidentified Celestial Body
02. Agalma
03. Interlude: First Reconnaissance Operation
04. Unknown Stellar Samples
05. Interlude: Echoes Of Foreign Worlds
06. In The Maw Of The Jester God
07. Interlude: The Collapse Interval
08. Under The Eye Of Jupiter
09. Interlude: That Breathes Unseen
10. And The Stars Looked Back
11. Epilogue: The Olympus Addendum

»Unknown Stellar Samples« is the first single from »Agalma«, the new album by French progressive doom/death metal band Monolithe. »Unknown Stellar Samples« follows an exploration into the vast, apparently dormant structure suspended near Jupiter. Within its shifting corridors, sensors yield unusable data, patterns defy interpretation and collected fragments refuse to fit any known scientific framework. The contrast between the object’s still exterior and its restless interior deepens the mystery: signs of activity offer no clear evidence of a mind.

Moving from physical investigation to a crisis of understanding, the lyrics question the explorers’ confidence that gathering evidence must lead to knowledge. Their samples expose the limits of reason, yet their desire to return remains undiminished. Gothic and sacred imagery turns discovery into an unsettling encounter with something that resists being named or understood.

The first single from Monolithe’s forthcoming album, »Agalma«, introduces a central concern of the band’s consciousness trilogy: what can be known of an intelligence that does not share our frames of reference?

Photo credit: Sébastien Lovat

»Agalma« is Monolithe’s eleventh studio album and the second chapter of their trilogy exploring consciousness, following »Black Hole District«.

Set aboard the cargo vessel Hesiod on its journey to Jupiter, the story follows a crew confronted with a celestial object of staggering proportions, which they name »Agalma«. Through the account of Dr Banks, the narrative explores encounters between different forms of consciousness and the challenges of coexistence.

Massive riffs, atmospheric keyboards and evolving song structures shape an immersive science-fiction journey, extending the band’s longstanding affinity for cosmic imagery and ambitious storytelling.

»Agalma« will be released on January 22, 2027 through Psalmodist Records. Available on CD, digital and double vinyl + a coloured edition limited to 100 copies.

Pre-order / pre-save »Agalma«:
monolithe.bigcartel.com | orcd.co/agalma

Music & lyrics written by Sylvain Bégot, with songwriting contributions by Axel Hurard.
Growl lines written by Quentin Verdier & Sylvain Bégot.
Clean vocals lines written by Monolithe.
Dr. Banks voice-over performed by Eliza Weizenbaum.
Recorded between July 2025 and May 2026.
Drums recorded @Studio 120dB by Andrew Guillotin.
Bass recorded @Eyrie Studio by Vincent Rémon.
Guitars, keyboards & vocals recorded @Red Reed & Pulsar Studios by Sylvain Bégot.
Mixed & mastered by Frédéric Gervais @Studio Henosis, July 2026.
Produced by Sylvain Bégot.
Artwork by Maciej Kamuda.
Band logo by Robert Høyem.

Monolithe is:
Quentin Verdier – Lead & Backing Vocals, Growls, Guitar
Sylvain Bégot – Guitar, Keyboards, Devices
Benoît Blin Guitar
Vincent Rémon – Bass, Backing Vocals
Axel Hurard – Keyboards
Thibault Faucher – Drums

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well