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