Opera IX are a band from Italy that has been interviewed before in this zine and on this recording goes for a symphonic mixture of black and doom metal and this is a review of their 2025 album "Venificium" which will be released in may by Edged Circle Productions.
Horror movie style keyboards start off the album and also mixes in with the heavier sections of the songs at times while the spoken words also add in a ritualistic touch. At times the music also gets symphonic sounding along with some elements of doom metal being added into the slower parts of the songs.
Harsh vocals are mostly grim sounding black metal screams while the clear singing also adds in some gothic metal touches. When guitar solos and leads are utilized they are also done in a very melodic style along with some whispers being used and the faster sections of the songs also add in some tremolo picking and blast beats.
Melodies are also added into a lot of the guitar riffing along with the songs also adding in a good mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts. Stringed instruments can also be heard briefly as well as a couple of the tracks also being very long and epic in length and the album closes with a Black Sabbath cover. The production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover Occultism, Dark Arts and Witchcraft themes.
In my opinion this is another great sounding recording from Opera IX and if you are a fan of this band, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Vocatio Mortourum" "Hortus Sagae" "Venficium" and "Black Sabbath". 8 out of 10.
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