Stormlord

I noted earlier that there is no such thing as one, single Italian black metal style. And I stand by that statement. Mortuary Drape, Sinoath, Schizo, Winged, Opera IX...they sound nothing alike. Even bands that are part of the same subgenre (Necrodeath and Bulldozer are both black/thrash by modern standards) have unique styles. Rome's STORMLORD is further evidence of this. 

Formed in 1991, Stormlord initially began as a death metal project. Their first demo in 1992 bears this out. After recruiting a second guitarist, they released a second demo in 1993, Black Knight. Due to the use of well- placed synths, this demo had a more epic, grand feel to it. This epic aura would continue on future releases. 

This is the Black Knight demo in its entirety

After these two demos, the band began to get tired of the direction death metal was going in. Additionally, they weren't happy with the sound of their death metal growls. They then began crafting epic songs that leaned more in the direction of black metal. Around this time, record labels began expressing an interest in the band, too. After crafting a promo of material for record labels and then an MCD of new material in 1997, the band released their first full-length studio album in 1999.

This is "War (The Supreme Art)"

Titled The Supreme Art of War, this album saw a mix of symphonic black metal, epic power metal, and some folk elements as well. By the band's own admission, the sound on Art of War was a result of a more democratic approach to song writing and their new keyboard player being classically trained. The epic synth passages gave the entire album an almost medieval, folk vibe.

"...And Winter Was" is off of their 2001 album, At the Gates of Utopia

Exploding out of the underground and into the black metal mainstream at a time when symphonic black metal was peaking, Stormlord resisted that label themselves.  Noting that they thought of bands like Immortal and Darkthrone as black metal, while bands that incorporated synths the way they and Dimmu Borgir did were something different, they labeled themselves "epic extreme metal."

"Dance with Hecate" comes from their 2004 album, The Gorgon Cult

I would argue that the label they came up with for themselves makes sense the more you listen to their later albums. Beyond the elements of symphonic black metal, you have a wide variety of clean vocals, operatic vocals, riffing that is reminiscent of power and death metal, and exotic folk elements. Fans of viking metal, folk black metal, and  symphonic black metal would enjoy what Stormlord has to offer, but they're really so much more than that.

From 2008's Mare Nostrum, this is "And the Wind Shall Scream My Name"

Select Discography:

Demo 1992 (demo) (1992)

Black Knight (demo) (1993)

Cataclysm (demo) (1995)

Promo 1997 (demo) (1997)

Under the Sign of the Sword EP (1997)

Supreme Art of War (full-length) (1999)

At the Gates of Utopia (full-length) (2001)

The Gorgon Cult (full-length) (2004)

Mare Nostrum (full-length) (2008)

Next time: TULUS

Winged

Italy, as we have seen, is home to a rather fruitful black metal scene. While some of Italy's black metal bands have gone on to some degree of international renown on the world stage--such as Opera IX and Mortuary Drape--other bands were much more underground by nature. Catania, Sicily's WINGED is one such band.

Winged formed in 1991. Fabio War had recently left Sinoath, and soon recruited Alex Storm (bass), Danilo (vocals), and Alexander (drums) to round out this new band of his. After releasing a couple of untitled demos later that year and in 1992, the line-up changed with Devastator replacing Alexander on drums and Fabian taking over on vocals after the departure of Danilo. This new line-up put out a demo that has since taken on legendary status in the underground, 1993's Oath of Blood.

This is Oath of Blood in its entirety

As can be heard above on the demo, Winged's style is kind of an old-school black/death metal. With riffing that is reminiscent of 1980s death metal, but at the same time has an almost hellenic sound to it, the songs on this demo possess a uniquely sinister aura to them. Punctuated by the use of eerie, dark keyboard passages, Winged was definitely on to something new with their sound. No other Italian band of this era had a style like theirs.

1996's A Voice Beyond the Grave highlights a different direction in their sound

This demo caused black metallers throughout the underground to sit up and take notice. However, Winged went on temporary hiatus until late 1995, when they emerged newly invigorated with a relatively fresh line-up: Fabio (guitars), Axl Moto (vocals), FullMoon (bass), and Alf Thunder (drums). The result was two demos in 1996 that showcased a more occultic, black metal sound. The death metal influences of their early years were much more subdued in favor of a playing style that easily fits under the label "black metal". With their black metal credentials more firmly established, Winged entered the studio to create their first (and to date, only) full-length album, From the Arcane Burning Legions.

"Living in My Hell" is off of Winged's full-length debut

Recorded in late 1997 and released in 1998, Legions is a dark, mystical album that balances the sinister black metal stylings of the recent demos with a melodic use of keyboards and clean vocals. The result was a release that was clearly consistent with Winged's earlier efforts, but at the same time did something new. While I would argue that there isn't an "Italian sound" in black metal, per se, I would say that some of the elements of Winged's sound are present to some degree in the work of fellow countrymen Sinoath, Opera IX, and Mortuary Drape (eerie synths, a more mid-paced guitar style, non-traditional black metal vocals, to name a few).

Since the release of 1998's Legions, Winged hasn't really done much. They have put out a four-song EP in 2007 (House of Silence) and a compilation of old material in 2013. Additionally, they have re-released their full-length album a couple of times. There are rumors that new material is being worked on, but until it surfaces, we shall have to see what the future holds for Winged....

Here is the 2007 EP of House of Silence

Select Discography:

Rehearsal Tape (demo) (1991)

Rehearsal '92 (demo) (1992)

Oath of Blood (demo) (1993)

A Voice Beyond the Grave (demo) (1996)

When the Evil Emerges (demo) (1996)

From the Arcane Burning Legions (full-length album) (1998)
The House of Silence EP (2007)

Next time: ENSLAVED

Opera IX

Italy really does have a sorely overlooked black metal scene. Necrodeath, Bulldozer, Schizo, Sinoath, Mortuary Drape....all crucial bands from the early years. But there are few bands in Italian black metal history as interesting as OPERA IX, from the Piedmont region.

"Cemetaria" is from 1990's Gothik

Opera IX was formed in 1988 by guitarist Ossian. While they are now known as pioneers in the gothic style of symphonic black metal, their initial sound was more of an almost doom/death with gothic overtones. Their 1990 demo, Gothik, is a sterling example of this. This was more or less the basis for Opera IX's sound in their early years, and it probably would have remained so if not for two important developments.

Off of The Triumph of the Death, this is "Born in the Grave"

First, vocalist Cadaveria joined in 1992. She is one of the earliest--and most well-known--examples of female vocalists in extreme metal, and she is able to combine beautiful, enchanting vocals, with gruff, harsh growls. She helped Opera IX stand out from the pack. But the other--equally important--development was the recruiting of Silent Bard on keyboards. He was a classically trained pianist, and his ethereal keyboard playing added another layer to Opera IX's sound. The first album with both Cadaveria and Silent Bard contributing was the 1993 EP The Triumph of the Death. This can rightfully be hailed as a landmark in not just Italian black metal, but symphonic black metal and gothic black metal as well.

The world really sat up and took notice after the release of this crucial EP. Not too long after, Opera IX were able to record their debut full-length album, 1994's The Call of the Wood. This album was more of the same style as the EP, but members of the band have since said that they wished they had a bigger budget for better production. Personally, I think that the production values on Call work with Opera IX's style. Call of the Wood is, in my opinion, a masterpiece.

"Al Azif" is a fantastic song off of Call of the Wood

After a one-album deal with Shiver Records (which resulted in the follow-up to Call of the Wood, 1998's Sacro Culto), Opera IX signed with well-known Italian label Avantgarde Records. Their next several albums were released through this label. They also appeared on two really great compilations put out by Dwell Records: Awakenings - Females in Extreme Music in 1997, and A Call to Irons - A Tribute to Iron Maiden in 1998 (where they covered Maiden's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner")

1998's Sacro Culto gave us "My Devotion"

At the same time, the band underwent immense personnel changes. Silent Bard had left before the recording of Sacro Culto, and in 2001, Opera IX parted ways with Cadaveria and drummer Flegias. Ossian and the remaining members of the band soldiered on, recruiting Madras on vocals, Taranis on drums, and Lunaris on keyboards.

I honestly believe that Opera IX's work with Cadaveria is their best--truly genre-defining. That being said, Opera IX in general is one of the most important and interesting bands in all of symphonic/gothic black metal's history.

"Act I - The First Seal" is from the 2000 magnum opus The Black Opera

Select Discography:

Gothik (demo) (1990)

Promo '92 (demo) (1992)

The Triumph of the Death 7" (1993)

The Call of the Wood (full-length) (1994)

Sacro Culto (full-length) (1998)

The Black Opera: Symphoniae Mysteriorum in Laudem Tenebrarum (full-length) (2000)

Maleventum (full-length) (2002)

Amphisbena (full-length) (2004)

Next time: MUSSORGSKI

Sinoath

Ask any casual black metal fan to name an Italian black metal band, and you'd probably get a blank stare. Maybe they've heard of Opera IX or Graveworm, or perhaps a more recent band like Blasphemophager, but the old school? Not likely. And that's a shame because Italy's scene was as vibrant as so many other countries. With Necrodeath and Bulldozer at the head of the pack with their notorious black/thrash, Death SS as something of a distant ancestor, and Mortuary Drape holding their own with so many first-wave and second-wave bands, bands like SINOATH also deserve a mention.

From their first demo, here is "Black River Acheron"

Formed in 1990 in the Sicilian city of Catania and citing bands ranging from Death SS to Obituary to Black Sabbath as influences, Sinoath released their first demo--Forged in Blood--in 1991. With such a diverse mix of influences, one would expect a sound that doesn't neatly fit under a 'black metal' label. And this would be a fair assumption. Using keyboards for a very effective dark and occultic atmosphere, the riffing clearly owes a lot to 1980s death AND black metal, with fairly brutal vocals to boot.

From their second demo, here is "Sinoath"

On their second demo--1993's Still in the Grey Dying--Sinoath's sound began to solidify as a more death/thrash kind of style.  The keyboards continue to enhance the atmosphere of the music, making it have a kind of old-school occult feel to it, but make no mistake, it's still more firmly in the death/thrash camp than black metal camp.  The same can be said of their oddly titled full-length album, 1995's Research.  Shortly after the release of this album, Sinoath broke up.

About a decade later, however, Sinoath got back together with a totally new lineup (other than founding drummer Salvatore).  The result was 2007's full-length Under the Ashes.  This album has a sound that can only be described as merging the keyboard-driven evil atmosphere of their early work with an homage to old-school black/thrash.  Take a listen:

2007's Under the Ashes

Select Discography:

Forged in Blood (demo) (1991)
Still the Grey Dying (demo) (1993)
Research (full-length) (1995)
Under the Ashes (full-length) (2007)

Next time: DEMONCY

Schizo, Death SS, and Italy's early black metal underground

In 1980s Italy, it wasn't just Necrodeath and Bulldozer making waves with raw black/thrash.  The Sicilian band SCHIZO was also becoming known for blackened thrash in the old-school vein.  Formed in 1984 in the city of Catania, their style leaned a little more toward heavy thrash than did those other two giants of Italian black/thrash.  But make no mistake, it was still an old school black/thrash.

Off of the 1986 demo Total Schizophrenia

With demos such as 1985's Thrash the Unthrashable - Thrash to Kill!, 1986's Total Schizophrenia, and 1987's Main Frame Collapse, Schizo's black/thrash sound spread far and wide in the metal underground.  Then in 1989, they released the cult album Main Frame Collapse (not the same as the demo, obviously).

From 1989's Main Frame Collapse

Schizo continued releasing albums into the 1990s, but (inexplicably) never really became as widely known as Necrodeath.  They are still around to this day, putting out albums.  Their most recent, 2010's Hallucinating Cramps, is more straightforward thrash (think later Sodom or Destruction) than black/thrash.

Select Discography

Thrash the Unthrashable - Thrash to Kill!!! (demo) (1985)

Rehearsal (demo) (1986)

Total Schizophrenia (demo) (1987)

Main Frame Collapse (demo) (1987)

Main Frame Collapse (full-length album)  (1989)

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Pescara's REQUIEM started out as an occult-obsessed blackened/doom metal band before gradually becoming a progressive-sounding doom metal band.  They put out some very hard to find demos--1986's Nunc et Semper and 1987's Per Aspera--before releasing studio albums such as 1988's Ex Voto EP and 1990's Via Crucis.  By the time of those albums, the shift away from black metal was very noticeable.  The band broke up in 1995, with some members going on to form the doom metal band The Black.

This is off of the 1986 demo, Nunc et Semper

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The Hellhammer-influenced BLACK PROPHECIES formed in 1988.  Coming from the area near Genoa, their style was really raw and primitive.  Their first demo, 1988's Azathoth, was really vile-sounding with awful production--in other words, perfect visceral old-school black metal.  After that initial demo, they only put out two other demos before breaking up.

"Mass of the Undead" is from their first demo

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While Italy's scene in the 1980s had other noteworthy bands--like INFERNALIA, CENOTAPH, POSTRIBULUM, and FUNERAL ORATION--there have been a few old-school black metal bands that went on to international renown.  I will make separate entries for bands like Opera IX, Winged, and Sinoath at a later date.  But as a final note on this entry on the early Italian scene, I have to mention DEATH SS.  They're one of those bands that is definitely extreme metal, but don't really fall into one genre or another.

Death SS--from the city of Pesaro--formed in 1977.  They performed a brand a music that might properly be called occult-themed horror metal.  With their early releases (1981's Horned God of the Witches demo, 1982's "Zombie/Terror" and "Night of the Witch" singles, 1983's "Profanation" single, and the 1983 Evil Metal EP), one can hear the influence of all the heavy metal and hard rock pioneers of the seventies like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Kiss, and Alice Cooper.  Their methodical, almost doom-like music featured a raw guitar sound, and vocals that were primal yet not screeched.

The demo track "Terror" from 1981

The band members adopted stage names that were drawn from horror and the occult, such as The Death, The Vampire, The Mummy, The Zombie, and The Werewolf.  Their lyrical content was--not surprisingly--heavy on evil, Satanism, the occult, and horror movies.  Some of the members were actual Crowleyans (members of OTO), and this clearly influenced their song-writing.

"Chains of Death" is from their 1983 EP, Evil Metal

To my mind, the sound of Death SS changed somewhat with their first two proper studio albums.  On 1988's In Death of Steve Sylvester and (to a greater degree) on 1989's Black Mass, their sound became less steeped in the seventies styles of the above-mentioned bands, and began to resemble the extreme metal sounds of the 1980s, like speed and thrash metal.  In this regard, one could consider these two albums (especially Black Mass) important releases in the history of old-school black metal.  In the 1990s, Death SS shifted styles away from an old-school occult/black/speed metal to something with a heavy electronic/industrial feel to it.

From the outstanding album, 1989's Black Mass

Select Discography

The Horned God of the Witches (demo) (1981)

"Zombie/Terror" (single) (1982)

"Night of the Witch" (single) (1982)

"Profanation" (single) (1983)

Evil Metal EP (1983)

The Story of Death SS Vol. 2 (demo/compilation) (1987)

In Death of Steve Sylvester (full-length album)  (1988)

Black Mass  (full-length album)  (1989)

Next time: ROOT

Mortuary Drape

Back in the day, the Italian scene was truly thriving.  Necrodeath and Bulldozer practically invented old-school black/thrash, Death SS represented horror-themed occult metal, MonumentuM put out blackened doom/death, and Alessandria's MORTUARY DRAPE made a name for themselves with very strong black metal in the old-school vein.  They formed in 1986, and with demos like 1987's Necromancy and 1989's Doom Returns began to make a name for themselves.

This is 1987's Necromancy in its entirety

Their style was very atmospheric, and had a very occultic feel to it.  Lyrically, Mortuary Drape admitted to being more or less obsessed with witchcraft and black magic and the occult in general.  They even went so far as to label their sound 'black occult metal'.  In the nineties, they began putting out actual studio albums, such as 1991's Into the Drape EP and then the infamous 1994 full-length All the Witches Dance.

"Vengeance From Beyond", from 1991's Into the Drape

Unlike a good number of old-school black metal bands that are still around, Mortuary Drape is still continuing to put out material that stays true to the first-wave black metal ethos.  While they may not have been able to top the 1994 masterpiece All the Witches Dance, they have kept flying the flag for quality Italian black metal when most people aren't even aware that Italy has any black metal to offer.

An example of the (oc)cult sounds of 1994's All the Witches Dance

Select Discography:

Demo '86 (demo) (1986)
Live Tape '87 (live demo) (1987)
Necromancy (demo) (1987)
Doom Return (demo) (1989)
Into the Drape EP (1991)
All the Witches Dance (1994)
Mourn Path EP (1996)
Secret Sudaria (1997)
Tolling 13 Knell (2000)
Buried in Time (2004)

Next time:  TORMENTOR