Italy: Opera IX (Metal)

Location: Biella, Italy (1988 – present);

Genres: Gothic Metal / Black Metal;

Current line-up: Vlad (bass); Dalamar (drums); Ossian (guitars); M. (vocals);

“Opera IX was born in 1988 by the perverse mind of Ossian. In 1990 they realize the first demo tape "Gothik". After many changes of line-up, the band reaches a certain stability with Cadaveria at the voice, Ossian at the guitar, Vlad at the bass and Flegias at the drums.The sound switches from an "occult metal" to an atmosferic mix of Doom Death and Black.

Born in The Grave from The Triumph Of The Death

The second demo DEMO 92,containing 4 cult songs, makes the band known in the entire underground scene and brings a contract for a 7" EP, came out in 1993. The first 500 copies are sold out in only 2 months. In the meantime the band realizes a video tape "The triumph of the Death" containing 2 videos; the great success obtained pushes the band to include it on the merchandise, even if it was conceived only for promotion.

Alone In The Dark from  The call of the Wood (1995)

At the end of 1993, Silent Bard, a musician of classic background, joins the line-up. With his keybords the band explores those new atmospheres, more etereal and grim, belonging to "The call of the Wood".

It's a full album on cd, out in 1995 under Miscarriage Records, containing 5 long songs: about 60 minutes of dark emotions to reach the most occult dimensions of human and superhuman existency, under the sign of pure obscurity and the first pagan footsteps.

After the coming out of the cd Opera IX changes the keyboard, the new member Triskent celebrates the traditions of the old pagan religion throughout the keyboards and guitar synth.

Rime of the ancient mariner from A call to Irons

"Awakening" the compilation cd is out for the American label Dwell Records. Opera IX partecipates with the inedit "My devotion". For the same label the Opera partecipates to "A call to Irons" an Iron Maiden tribute cd. The cover chosen by the band is "Rime of the ancient mariner".

My Devotion from Sacro Culto (1998)

In 1998: they released a new álbum - Sacro Culto - for the Belgian Shiver Records. The songs are more epic and black compared to the earlier production and the sound is a bit less contemplative. The keyboards are now played by Lunaris which worthly replaced the previous keyboard player, Turned out from the band because of ideologic misunderstandings.

Fronds of the Ancient Walnut from Sacro Culto (1998)

The production comes out definitely better than that of "The Call of the Wood" both for sound quality and artwork. The album is indeed presented in digipack. From "Cacro Culto" is realized the video "Fronds of the Ancient Walnut".

Finally with the year 2000 the Opera IX step forward in quality signing for Avantgardemusic, excellent label that totally embraces the expectations of the band that in January records, at the Undergrund studios in Sweden, the third chapter of their history "The black opera, simphoniae misteriorum in laude tenebrarum"an emotional concept album of pure atmospheric and epic black metal, the best production ever had so far.

Bela Lugosi's Dead from The Black Opera (2000)

Thanks to the great work of the label, both for promotion and distribution, The Black Opera reaches the 18000 copies sold.

Because of problems of musical and spiritual nature Flegias and Cadaveria leave the band to form a personal musical project and the Opera IX rediscover, in Taranis drums, and Madras vocals, the enthusiasm of old times and the filosofic-esoteric toghetherness, a very important factor for the soul of the band.

Maleventum from Maleventum (2002)

A new chapter unfolds in the story of Opera IX with the fourth album entitled Maleventum, a concept about witchcraft and paganism, plunged in a much more aggressive and epic sound than the earlier works. The recording of Maleventum will take place in January 2002 at the Damage inc studios in Ventimiglia.

The 21 September Madras and Taranis leaves band for several problems. In this time the Band was completing the agreement of the new album "Anphisbena".

Immortal Chant from Anphisbena (2004)

 

The project Opera IX not only is a musical concept but a marriage of art and religion where a style of life prevails on the daily life of modern man. The Opera IX walks along the occult roads of the old pagan knowledge troughout meditation and rites. They explore the dark meanders surrounding the men, travelling through old legends, forgotten traditions and superstitions.

The real essence of Opera IX is hidden in their lirics and in the music they compose, nothing else is worth saying. About their believes, Opera IX onour the celtic Gods and the powers of Nature, but, above all, they strongly believe in the power of their minds and spirits, in the energy inside everyone.

In the december of 2003 Opera IX complete the new line up with M the bard vocals and Dalamar drums. In the february 2006 Lunaris go out from Opera IX line up to explore other musical sides, so the band decided to use only a session keyboards player.

In the November 2007 Occultum Production relased “The Early Chapters” the reissue of the band's firts works. December 2008 the band seal the twenty-year career with the release of the DVD "Mythology XX Years of Witchcraft" for Occultum Production.I n the 2011 Opera Ix sign with the Polish Agonia records to release the sixth album.

Discography:

1990 - Gothik (Demo)

1992 - Demo'92 (Demo)

1993 - The Triumph of the Death (EP)

1994 - The Triumph of the Death (video / VHS)

1995 - The Call of the Wood (Full-length)

1998 - Live At Babylonia (video / VHS)

1998 - Sacro Culto (Full-length)

2000 - The Black Opera (Full-length)

2002 - Maleventum (Full-length)

2004 - Anphisbena (Full-length)

2007 - The Early Chapters (Compilation)

2008 - Mythology XX Years of Witchcraft (DVD)

You can find more information on their official website, and follow them on Facebook, Myspace and YouTube.

Italy: The Foreshadowing (Metal)

Location: Rome, Italy (2005 – present);

Genres: Gothic / Doom Metal;

Current line-up: Francesco Giulianelli (bass); Jonah Padella (drums); Alessandro Pace (guitars); Andrea Chiodetti (guitars); Marco Benevento (vocals); Francesco Sosto (Keyboards, backing vocals);

“Founded in 2005 by Alessandro Pace (former member of Klimt 1918, Spiritual Front & Dope Stars Inc.) and lately joined by Andrea Chiodetti (guitar player of Grimness, ex Spiritual Front), Francesco Sosto (keyboard player, ex Spiritual Front), the drummer Jonah Padella (Grimness), Davide Pesola on bass (Klimt 1918) and, at last, by Marco Benevento (singer of How Like a Winter), the band THE FORESHADOWING records its first full-length album Days of Nothing in 2006, mixed at Outer Sound Studio (Rome, Italy) by Giuseppe Orlando (Novembre) and mastered at Principal Studio (Senden, Germany).

Departure from Days of Nothing (2007)

Days of Nothing is a concept album about an imaginery apocalypse wished by an insane ordinary man. The album features a simple and powerful sound, where strong distortion guitars blend with mellow keyboards pads. After several offers, The Foreshadowing announced in april ’07 their signing with Candlelight Records.

The Wandering from Days of Nothing (2007)

On October 22nd 2007, Days of Nothing was issued worldwide under the historical label, receiving praise from critics and listeners all over the world. The album was released on a deluxe slipcase edition featuring the amazing artwork realized by well-known artist Seth Siro Anton (Paradise Lost, Moonspell, SepticFlesh, Soilwork and many others). After the debut release The Foreshadowing announced their official endorsement with Jackson Guitars USA.

On January 11th 2008, The Foreshadowing held a release party at the Jailbreak in Rome, and also concentrated on live shows, playing some club gigs and tooking part at some important festival as Stoner Hand of Doom (Italy), Legacy Festival (Serbia), Mayday Rock Festival (Poland) and Summer Darkness Festival 2009 (Netherlands) supporting Lacuna Coil.

Surviors Sleep from Oionos (2010)

At the end of 2008 the band gathered together to write their new opus “Oionos”. The new album was recorded and mixed again at OUTER SOUND STUDIOS (Rome, Italy) with Giuseppe Orlando (Novembre) during the spring 2009. The mastering was done in june 2009 at FINNVOX STUDIOS (Helsinki, Finland) by Mika Jussila, meanwhile the band is working again with Seth Siro Anton for artwork.

Russians from Oionos (2010)

The album sound is more gloomy, obsessive and epic than ever and it consists of 10 brand new tracks plus an exclusive funeral cover version of 80’s hit “Russians” by Sting. On December 2009 the band signed a new record deal with german cult label Cyclone Empire Records who set the schedule for the release date to april 2010.”

Discography:
2007 – Days Of Nothing (Full-length)

2010 – Oionos (Full-length)

You can find more information on their official website, and follow them on Facebook and Myspace.

Italy: Novembre (Metal)

Location: Rome, Italy (1993 – present);

Genres: Gothic/Doom/Death Metal

Current line-up: Valerio Di Lella (bass); Giuseppe Orlando (drums); Massimiliano (guitars); Carmelo Orlando (vocals, guitars and keyboards);

Rome's NOVEMBRE are a band that has made a solid impression upon both the death metal and atmospheric metal scenes with equally strong results. Ever since their inception, word about the group has spread among the underground scene on a worldwide basis.

It was back in September 1990 when the two brothers Carmelo Orlando (guitars and vocals) and Giuseppe Orlando (drums) formed the band CATACOMB. About a year later, in November 1991, they released their first demo – Unreal. Despite its poor sound-quality it immediately raised peoples' interest among the then-flourishing death metal scene.

The 7" EP The Return Of The Ark  followed in early 1993 and due to its unusual mix of melancholic gothic doom with classic influences caused even more exposure and popularity in the world-wide underground.

Verne from Materia (2006)

Soon after they renamed the band NOVEMBRE, as the former moniker did not represent the bands steadily progressing sound anymore. Things finally felt right and around the same time NOVEMBRE signed to Polyphemus Records.

In the Fall of 1994 the band recorded their highly-acclaimed debut, Wish I Could Dream It Again. This was right around the same time as other leaders of the initial atmospheric scene recorded their first and early albums, making NOVEMBRE among the first bands inventing and playing this sound.

The Dream Of The Old Boats from Wish I Could Dream It Again (1994)

After two more years of hard work NOVEMBRE released their second album - Arte Novecento - which showed the band developing into an even darker direction. In Spring of 1997, Massimiliano Pagliuso (guitars) joined the band as a second guitarist, and towards the end of 1998 they inked a worldwide deal with Century Media Records.

Nostalgiaplatz from Classica (1999)

After months of intense rehearsals their third álbum – Classica - was recorded at the band's own The Outer Studios in Rome in Summer 1999 and mixed in Andy LaRocque's famous Los Angered Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Classica was supported by a European tour with MOONSPELL, KREATOR and WITCHERY in January, 2000, as well as a gig at Leipzig's Wave Gotik Treffen Festival. Since the show went down great they were invited for the following year's festival too.

Distances from Novembrine Waltz (2001)

Classica's successor came to light in the Fall, 2001. NOVEMBRE entered The Outer Sound Studios again to record Novembrine Waltz. In order to add the icing to the cake they went to Sound Suite Studios near Marseilles and mixed the album with producer Terje Refsnes (Tristania, Sins Of Thy Beloved, Morgul)

During November and December 2001, the band supported the album on a European tour along with the outstanding talents of their old friends from OPETH and KATATONIA which marked one of the many highlights in their career.

Let Me Hate from Dreams d'Azur (2002)

Even though things were progressing superbly, NOVEMBRE felt it was time for a little journey into their past:.. Wish I Could Dream It Again... sold out extremely quickly and is nowadays a highly sought-after rarity. Many of the new fans who missed the chance to purchase the debut album back in the day were eager to get their hands on a copy and more than willing to overspend for a second-hand copy.

In light of this situation, NOVEMBRE decided to re-record the songs of the album, once more in their own Outer Sound Studio during the Summer of 2002, both to give a new sound-treatment to these formidable and well-regarded tunes, and to give fans the possibility to complete their NOVEMBRE collection.To mark the difference between "old" and "new" versions and avoid further confusion, the band decided to rename the album with the title Dreams d'Azur.

Meanwhile things started to fall apart between the band and the label. It seemed as though they had nothing else to give each other. Both parties agreed to terminate the deal, leaving NOVEMBRE free to search for a more appropriate record label. It wasn't long before NOVEMBREs freedom came to the attention of the British legendary label, Peaceville Records. A label that, with the bands they produced and the albums released, traced a deep and binding mark on NOVEMBREs song writing spine. Definitely the label they should have always been signed to.

Aquamarine from Materia (2006)

Since the signing of the deal in 2004, the band locked themselves up in their garage to write their fifth album - Materia - recorded between their Outer Sound Studios and Helsinki's Finnvox Studios. Materia has been released in April 2006, and was supported by a highly successful European Tour with KATATONIA.

As if to continue the momentum following the success of Materia, Novembre swiftly began work on the follow-up album, with an even heavier presence than the previous album yet still maintaining the high level of atmospherics which the band are well known for.

Bluecracy from The Blue (2007)

Novembre's creative overdrive, fuelled by the pre-Materia silent years, became evident in the hyper-speed composition of 12 new emotional and progressive rock/doom/metal jewels composing their sixth and best album to date - THE BLUE.

Discography:

1994 – Wish I Could Dream it Again (Full-length)

1996 – Arte Novecento (Full-length)

1999 – Classica (Full-length)

2001 – Novembrine Waltz (Full-length)

2002 – Dreams d’Azur (Full-length)

2006 – Materia (Full-length)

2006 – Memoria Stoica (Single)

2007 – The Blue (Full-length)

You can find more information on their official website and follow them on Myspace and Facebook.

France: Ataraxie (Metal)

Location: Rouen, France (2000 – present);

Genres: Funeral Doom Metal; Death Metal;

Current line-up: Marquis (bass, vocals); Pierre Sénécal (drums); Sylvain Estève (guitars); Frédéric Patte-Brasseur (guitars);

After the split of his former black metal band, Reign of Evil, Jonathan decided to continue on his own and make a new band. Long time Doom-Metal fan, regretting the lack of Doom-Metal bands in France, he therefore chose to found Ataraxie, along with Clement, that already played with him in Reign Of Evil.

At the end of 2000, Jonathan and Clement met Pierre in Hellion Record’s shop, Rouen’s meeting place for all metalheads. Soon the rehearsal started. Also recruited at Hellion Record’s shop, Sylvain joined the band at the very beginning of 2001.

At that moment, Ataraxie sounded more like a black/death metal band with ‘doomy’ influences. The band even played some Reign Of Evil tunes, rearranged a more “doomier” way. After a few months of rehearsals, the band first hit the stage in April 2001, and yet received good reactions from the crowd.

L'Ataraxie from Slow Transcending Agony (2005)

During May 2001, Clement left Ataraxie, to focusing on his own brutal death/black metal project, “Supremacy”. Again met in Hellion Record’s, Fred replaced Clement in June. The line up never changed afterwards.

From summer 2001 to spring 2002, Ataraxie alternated composition and gigs, evoluting toward an extreme doom/death style. Seven songs were recorded by the band himself, became The Other Path, the first ‘studio’ release (released at the beginning of 2003), that reflects this evolution.

From autumn 2002, Ataraxie focused on gigging, with a growing reputation of solid performers. In January 2003, they shared the stage with the cult French band SUPURATION (or SUP), and in February 2003, were invited to join the English and French leg of the Doomination tour, along with the reknown Doom-metal bands Morgion, Mourning Beloveth, and The Prophecy.

The climax of it in Bradford, UK, when they performed in front of My Dying Bride... that gigs opened the doors for other shows, in and out of France. Ataraxie played for instance the Dutch Doom Day II, sharing the stage with their long time influence Evoken, or more recently was chosen as support for Cult Of Luna.

Slow Transcending Agony from Slow Transcending Agony (2005)

By spring 2004, the composition of the new album was finished, retaining five songs for a length of over 50 minutes. That time, the band decided to invest his own money on a professional studio, for proper sound and production. Kris Belaen, from CCR Studio (No Return, Aborted, Pantheist, Thee Plague Of Gentlemen, In Quest…) was chosen for producing and recording this album.

The tracks were recorded during August, and mixed down during September 2004. By spring 2005, a licence deal was signed with Weird Truth, a Japanese label (Mournful Congregation, Loss, Worship…) for a release in june 2005.

Walking Through The Land Of Falsity from Anhédonie (2008)

The follow-up, Anhédonie, was released in may 2008, and recorded in the same studios.

In 2009, after a long wait, Ataraxie associated its forces with the english doom/death band Imindain, releasing an hommage split CD for their common influence, Bethehem.

Discography:

2003 – The Other Path (Demo)

2003 – Live Doomination (Demo)

2005 – Slow Transcending Agony (Full-length)

2008 – Anhédonie (Full-length)

2009 – Bethlehems Bastarde (Split)

2011 – Project X (Compilation)

You can find more information on their official website, and follow them on Myspace, Facebook and Twitter.

France: Demians (Rock)

Location: Normandy, France (2007 – present);

Genres: Progressive Rock;

Current line-up: Nicolas Chapel (vocals, guitar, piano and all instruments on studio recordings); Antoine Pohu (bass); Gaël Hallier (drums); Fred Mariolle (guitars);

Demians is a French band started by Nicolas Chapel in 2007. Chapel’s inspiration for the name Demians came from the novel Demian by author Hermann Hesse.

"I was six or seven at the time", the French allrounder remembers. "The character of Max Demian was fascinating to me, expressing his thoughts freely in a way I was not able to express myself at the time. When searching for a name for my music, I wanted to name the songs, they are my little Demians", Chapel explains. "They help me understanding my place in the world".

His musical inspiration came from a variety of artists and sources, ranging from Radiohead to Tori Amos to ambient music. Chapel plays all instruments and performs all vocals on the first two Demians studio albums. All Demians releases have been self-produced and recorded in Chapel’s home studios.

Temple from Building an Empire (2008)

Demians’ first studio album - Building an Empire - was released on May 19, 2008 with positive reviews. The success of Building an Empire led Chapel to assemble a live band with Gaël Hallier (drums) and Antoine Pohu (bass), and they subsequently were granted opening slots for several well-known rock and metal bands, including Oceansize, Anathema, Aviv Geffen, and Jonathan Davis of Korn. They toured throughout Europe, playing more than 40 shows in more than 12 countries.

Tidal from Mute (2010)

The follow-up entitled Mute came out on June 28th, 2010. Chapel once again performed all instruments and vocals on the album, with two guests, Gaël Hallier playing drums on “Swing Of The Airwaves” and “Hesitation Waltz”, and Lepolair playing electronics on the song “Porcelain”.

Swing Of The Airwaves from Mute (2010)

Very different from its predecessor, the album once again gathered excellent reviews worldwide, and brought the band’s music to a wider audience.
Nicolas Chapel chose not to tour after the release of the album, focusing on production works. He got involved in the soundtrack of the movie “L’Apprenti Père Noël” with French singer Arthur H, and is currently producing various artists in the studio he created during the recording sessions of “Mute".

Fred Mariolle officially joined Demians as a guitar player after the release of “Mute”. In late 2010, he officially joined the Metal band Vetha as their bass player, with fellow bandmate Gaël Hallier as their drummer.

Black Over Gold from Mute (2010)

In June 2011, the band announced that they have started working on their third album and a DVD to be released in the Spring of 2012, with the members of the live band being now involved in the recording process.

Discography:

2008 – Building An Empire (Full-length)

2010 – Mute (Full-length)

You can follow Demians on Myspace.



France: Gojira (Metal)

Location: Bayonne, France (1996 – present);

Genres: Death/Thrash/Groove Metal

Current line-up: Jean-Michel Labadie (bass); Mario Duplantier (drums); Christian Andreu (guitars); Joe Duplantier (vocals, guitars);

“It has always been hard to put a tag on GOJIRA, one of France’s most extreme bands the country’s musical pallet has ever known. But, then again, the band has never really sought out such a tag, instead letting the music do the talking, preferring introspection and intelligence over preconceived notions and preexisting tags.

Ever since the 1996 formation in town of Bayonne in the southwest of France, GOJIRA has been an ever-evolving experiment in extreme metal ultimately built upon a worldly, ever-conscious outlook with roots firmly-planted both in the hippie movement and an environmentally-conscious, new age mentality.

Clone from Terra Incognita (2001)

Originally dubbed Godzilla, after the scaly, green film star with an equally huge reputation as the newfound band’s sound, the brothers Duplantier – guitarist/vocalist Joe and drummer Mario – and fellow Frenchmen Jean Michel Labadie on bass and Christian Andreu on guitar, quickly released several demos, ultimately changing the band’s name and independently releasing the first GOJIRA album Terra Incognita - in 2001, offering up a brief glimpse into the giant GOJIRA would eventually become through persistent hard work and years of toiling in the metal underground.

After the 2003 release of the band’s follow-up - The Link - throughout Europe and the subsequent live DVD release the next year, of the aptly-titled The Link Alive.

The Link from The Link (2003)

2005 brought the release of From Mars To Sirius, the band’s breakthrough release, garnering high praise and a North American release through Prosthetic Records in 2006.

Fans of not only heavy, extreme music took notice, but so did the intellectual world, thanks to Sirius’ thoughtful and expansive inner examination of the world at hand and the consequences of humanity’s struggle to coexist without harm. The metal world was amused and amazed: much of it hadn’t yet seen an equally intelligent and pummelingly heavy release that was as expansive and open as it was dense and concise.

The Heaviest Matter of the Universe from From Mars To Sirius (2005)

Following the immense praise of From Mars To Sirius and recurring trips across the Atlantic for North American touring alongside the likes of Lamb of God, Children of Bodom, and Behemoth among others, GOJIRA established its stranglehold on the extreme metal spectrum with a linguist’s touch, a lyricist’s finesse, and a crushingly heavy live show that left audiences astounded, establishing the band’s live performance as a spot-on recreation of the band’s increasingly adept and intelligent studio output.

To Sirius from From Mars To Sirius (2005)

While 2007 wrapped with GOJIRA again touring North America on the Radio Rebellion Tour alongside Behemoth to the best reaction yet, the dawn of 2008 saw a nearly 10 month wait for while the band assembled The Way of All Flesh, one of the year’s most anticipated records.

Oroborus from The Way of All Flesh (2008)

This time revolving around the undeniable dilemma of a mortal demise, GOJIRA’s soundtrack to the situation seems fitting. Shifting ever-so-slightly from the eco-friendly orchestra of impending doom on From Mars To Sirius to the band’s new message of the equally uncontrollable inevitability of death, The Way of All Flesh melds the open and airy progressive passages GOJIRA has become famous for with the sonically dense sounds and bludgeoningly heavy rhythms that makes the band an equally intelligent force as it is unmatchably heavy.

Toxic Garbage Island from The Way of All Flesh (2008)

Featuring a guest vocal spot on “Adoration For None” from Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe – one of GOJIRA’s most vocal supporters from their first moment making an impression in the Americas – and the now familiar Morbid Angel-isms of The Way Of All Flesh’s title track join the angular riffing more akin to Meshuggah on “Esoteric Surgery” and the epic, artful plodding of the nearly 10-minute “The Art of Dying,” showing that GOJIRA have indeed opened a new bag of tricks for The Way Of All Flesh, while not abandoning the sound that first showed a massive promise of potential on Sirius.”

Discography:
2001 – Terra Incognita (Full-length)
2003 – Maciste All Inferno (EP)
2003 – The Link (Full-length)
2004 – The Link Alive (DVD)
2004 – The Link Alive (Live Album)
2005 – From Mars to Sirius (Full-length)
2008 – The Way of All Flesh (Full-length)

You can find more information on their official website, and follow them on Facebook and Myspace.