Reviews: SODP029
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Dulia are a band from Italy that plays an atmospheric and occult mixture of black and death metal and this is a review of their 2015 ep "Hic Contendimus" which was released as a joint effort between Symbol Of Domination Records, Black Plague Records and Metallic Media.
A very dark and ritualistic keyboard starts off the ep and after awhile the music gets a lot more heavier and also adds in morbid sounding melodies that also in a touch of doom metal and the music brings in a good mixture of death metal growls and black metal screams and also mix the keyboards with the heavier parts.
When the music speeds up blast beats can be heard along some of the riffs also have a raw and old school feeling and all of the musical instruments have a very powerful sound to them and the solos and leads that are used are very dark and melodic sounding and the songs also bring in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts and there also a small amount of spoken word parts and they close the ep with a cover of Mystifier's "Beelzebuth".
Dulia plays a style of black/death metal that is very occult and ritualistic sounding in the early 90's fashion, the production sounds very dark and old school while the lyrics cover Occultism and Left Hand Path themes.
In my opinion Dulia are a very great sounding occult mixture of black and death metal and if you are a fan of those musical genres, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Theurgical Purification" and "Sword Of Martyrs".
http://occultblackmetalzine.blogspot.ru/2015/10/duliasymbohic-contendimussymbol-of.html
A black/death metal band without a drummer? Is that legal or acceptable in the extreme metal scene? There's been a time when metalheads frowned upon drum computers and programming. Even I have been weary of keyboards for a while. Luckily some bands changed the general opinion about electronics in metal. Bands like Fear Factory, Samael and, why not, Atari Teenage Riot created stunning songs, using synths, programming and whatnot. Besides, sometimes you can't even notice there's no live drums.
Take Dulia for example. This Sicilian trio celebrates their first birthday today and what better way to do that than with a splendid ep. This is a blend of death and black metal with plenty of power and aggression to remain interesting. Yes, the drums are programmed but they are programmed by someone who seems to know a little something about metal drumming. These are not mere repetitive, industrial like drum patterns but resemble human drums quite perfectly. So we're going to stop whining about programming, ok?
The ep opens with a prelude, created by dark, eerie 'gothic' keyboards and turning into a first glimpse of Dulia's metallic abilities. From there this trio comes with some great songs, reminding me of something between Samael, Candlemass, Rotting Christ and even Woods of Ypres. The majority of the music is quite slow, hence the doom metal reference. Yet, there's plenty of uptempo passages to please even the fiercest headbangers among us.
Besides coming up with this highly versatile blend of some of the most extreme musical genres, Dulia shows a great deal of technical ingenuity. This results in complicated song structures with surprising hooks and breaks. Highlights of those aspects are the songs 'Theurgical Purification' and 'Sword Of Martyrs'. At the end, they come up with a nice cover of 'Beelzebuth' by Mystifier. In all, this is simply an excellent piece of blackened doom death and a welcome addition to any extreme metal collection.
http://www.merchantsofair.com/reviews/dulia-hic-contendimus
Black Metal a tinte Doom per gli italiani Dulia, approdati alla Satanath con questo EP. Cinque tracce più una cover per dare forma ad un miscuglio di suoni funerei e nel contempo veloci e taglienti. Spero che la registrazione sia stata volutamente tenuta leggermente grezza, giusto per donare quel retrogusto “di cantina” tanto caro alle composizioni old style. Si riconoscono chiaramente influenze di Morbid Angel ma anche della scuola svedese, sia Doom che death, per un risultato più che genuino. Un sentiero poco illuminato è stato imboccato dai nostri… Ora solo i Dulia possono dirci dove porterà. Contendenti.
http://www.metalhead.it/?p=55048
There is no denying that whenever a really brutal death metal album comes my way it is like the greatest substitute for sex. That feeling you get in your gut when the force that is death metal rumbles along like this is the end of the world. This is heavy as a ton of bricks and with an added touch of old school too. I would even go as far as calling this doom death. For some reason I come to think of Derketa when I listen to this. But whatever it might remind me of this is really cool stuff. You don’t have to play at a million beats per second to make it good.
http://battlehelm.com/reviews/dulia-hic-contendimus/
Dulia are a totally new project from Sicily, formed by three extremely talented musicians: Vincenzo ‘K. Mega’ Giuffrè (keyboards and drum programming) (think: Abgott, Throne Of Molok, Beasts Of Torah etc.), Elio ‘Elagabal’ Mangiaracina (bass and vocals) (known from Psychopath Witch especially), and Tony ‘Zagreus’ Frenda (guitars, vocals) (ex-Tragoidia, Necrosis, Thrash Bombz, Kawir etc.). At the end of 2014, the trio recorded their debut-EP Hic Contendimus at the Palermo-based MD Studios, resulting in a collection of five own tracks and one cover song, having a total running time of twenty six minutes. Initially it was released via Isolated Cult Records on cassette and digital (January 1st 2015), and now the EP sees a CD-edition, organized by a long-time trinity, being Metallic Media, Symbol Of Domination Productions and Black Plague Records.
Hic Contendimus, and let’s be honest about that, brings nothing new or world-shaking at all. Actually, for the better part it sounds like something you might have heard before. But am I really irritated? No, actually I am quite pleased by the result (once again indeed). As a matter of fact, this band brings a very to-the-pointed mixture of obscure Morbid Death Malignancy and Funeral Black Elegance, heavily rooted within the origins of the Old School tradition. There’s pretty much in reference to the funereal aspects of the Doom-Death scene, the epic force of the Second Wave, and the ritual obscurity of many occult acts from two-three decades ago. Not in the least this has to do with the fabulous, and I mean really grandiose, synth passages and excerpts, the magnificent obscured vocal pallet, or the massively grooving string sound, but I think the equilibrium of both Death and Black Metal elements from the late Eighties and earlier Nineties did put their mark on the final result. In general it’s quite slow, this material, or at least not necessarily fast-paced, yet with several energetically eruptional outbursts.
Just for fun, though not that imbecile: Necromantia - meet - Unleashed - meet - Darkthrone (Cromlech-era) - meet Lunar Aurora - meet - Opera IX - meet - Emperor, what do you think? Indeed, that’s quite appropriate, isn’t it?!
http://www.concreteweb.be/reviews/dulia
Occulte blackdeath in Italië: het leeft en waait zelfs over tot in Rusland, waar Satanath Records het plaatje te horen krijgt en mee helpt versturen zodat de wereld de boodschap te horen krijgt. Hic Contendimus is een opwarmer van een klein half uur waarbij we deze Italianen dus eens aan de tand kunnen voelen.
Ik word er eerlijk gezegd niet al te warm van. Oldschool deathmetalgolven die wat aanknopen bij een oude Darkthrone, met erg veel chaos en gerommel in zowel de instrumentale als vocale partijen. De donkere massa wordt voorzien van enkele melodische lijnen en wat storende synthgolven en het is na twee nummers duidelijk dat de bewegingsruimte van een band als deze erg beperkt is en de muziek erg cliché in de oren blijft klinken. Zeker niet occult genoeg (dit soort vampierensynthstukjes gaan je echt niet occult maken) en zowel warrig als basic in uitvoering. Kortom: er zijn bands in omloop die dit tien keer beter kunnen.
http://www.zwaremetalen.com/recensie/33526/Dulia-Hic-Contendimus.html
Dirty death metal. I think that is the best way to describe the product of these Italians. This is a debut EP full of death metal in the style of the nineties, even with that atmosphere, though the sound has been kept quite modern. The pace is quite varied, as is the quality of the songs. Especially the first three tunes are entertaining, but then the quality level drops and finishing the records turns into something of a challenge. The last two songs are even plain boring. Because of the use of a dirty sounding organ sometimes it reminds me of the first album of Crematory, but that sucker was a lot more entertaining than what I hear now. So it is not a terrible debut, but certainly not a the next big thing
http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/en/reviews/view/id/31347
Italian Dulia has, by all appearances, not favoured the world with anything before this 6-track EP, consisting of 26.5 minutes of music at the crossroads between black, death and doom.
In accordance with old Italian and Greek black metal, the sound carries a little touch of cassette player with weak batteries. There is something in the simple savagery and the seedy and shady melodies that grabs me. (The word catchy just sounds so commercial.) The expression may be slightly in excess primitive, and it's possible there's a bit too much doom in the mixture, for I would have preferred a bit more delirious expression.
I think I'll recommend this to tactless grave desecrators and other vulgar vandals on Prozac or other zombie pills.
The prim and ьber prudent can just take their fastidious bitching elsewhere
http://www.gorger.org/english/2015/2015-necrology.htm
Dulia, a occult black metal band from Sicily, Italy play a very twisted form of sinister inspired occult black metal, which is sure to give you nightmares beyond your control.
There are a total of six tracks on on this EP, with the first track being an intro with unholy atmospheres some of us would dread to even think of at night. The music on here is more in the vein of Necrophagia, early Celtic Frost, and even some hints of Morbid Angel can be found here as well.
The vocals on this EP, are not your typical black metal, raspy screams, but more within a similar vein to that of Sodom meets Necrophagia meets Possessed. The guitars are raw and quite primitive sounding, which gives Dulia’s music very classic, occult underground feel.
These guys are not doing anything new musically, lyrically or even vocally, but their true to the roots occult black metal brings to mind the good old days of underground and satanic metal. However, this trio should be given credit for keeping the overall feelings on this EP very bleak and dark, bringing images of an ugly virgin sacrifice at the goatlord’s altar.
Check it out and feel Dulia’s unholy, anti-god and anti-religious wrath of suicide on “Hic Contendimus”.
This is an excellent debut EP forged in black fire and morbid guitar lines. I really enjoyed these 6 tracks from Sicily, Italy.
Founded in 2014 by members and ex members from bands like Abgott, Psycopath Witch, etc, this is a band that recovers the darkest side of death metal, mixed with black metal elements and ominous vocal lines. Everything is tied with an obscured atmosphere of sinister keyboards and apocalyptic structures. I liked this piece of darkness because it delivers high doses of morbidity and stinky stuff. Also, this is an EP that denotes people involved in obscured metal music for a long time, and they have the knowledge to transmit distinctive states of mind through destructive tunes. These keyboards are main elements to forge a particular style, and yes, you can find references from old bands in Italy, from Paul Chain, to Mortuary Drape. It’s an excellent piece of black metal you will worship from the first note. As extra info, this EP includes a cover version of “Beelzebuth”, original from gods Mystifier.
https://zombieritualzine.wordpress.com/2016/03/03/album-review-dulia-hic-contendimus/
"Hic Contendimus" è l'ep di debutto per i siciliani Dulia, ma basta una veloce ricerca per notare che i tre componenti del gruppo sono attivi nella scena da tempo: qualcuno di voi avrà sicuramente incrociato nomi quali Abgott, Psycopath Witch e Tragoidia, specialmente se cultore dell'underground estremo italiano.
Le tracce contenute in questo primo parto sono costituite da un misto di Black e Death Metal, nel quale di tanto in tanto si fanno largo influenze Doom, il tutto intriso di una forte aura occulta. "Into Lavacrum" mette in chiaro questo aspetto fin da subito tramite un'introduzione ritualistica di organo e cori, elementi che potrete sentire in diversi momenti del disco e che potrebbero ricordarvi vagamente un certo Paul Chain. In generale il trio sembra legato alle sonorità del passato: la qualità del suono decisamente più adatta ai giorni nostri — comunque non certo cristallina — non nasconde nè indebolisce il sapore old school della proposta; la cover di "Beelzebuth" dei Mystifier dovrebbe togliervi ogni dubbio sul fattore modernità. Si procede quindi tra riff che potrebbero essere usciti dagli anni Ottanta, con quell'orecchiabilità tipica di un periodo in cui per essere definiti estremi non era ancora necessario arrivare ad allontanarsi dal concetto di musica (o semplicemente di Metal).
Vi accorgerete tuttavia che l'aggressività non è assolutamente un fattore messo da parte: a partire proprio dalle sei corde, grezze e prive di qualunque fronzolo eppure dotate di un buon gusto melodico, passando per la prestazione infernale ed espressiva a metà tra scream e growl dei due cantanti e arrivando alle ritmiche fornite da un basso ben presente e da una drum machine programmata talmente bene che non vi farebbe rimpiangere l'assenza di un batterista, se non fosse per qualche suono eccessivamente finto. Brani quali "Theurgical Purification" e "Christus Hermeticus" riescono a intrattenere grazie alla spiccata dinamicità delle composizioni, pur senza strafare riescono infatti a evolversi in continuazione; sono i numerosi cambi di tempo che spaziano tra blast beat, mid tempo e rallentamenti che tendono al Doom a mantenere sempre alta l'attenzione dell'ascoltatore, mentre le già citate atmosfere esoteriche in combinazione con il riffing contribuiscono a rendere il tutto più malevolo.
Alla base di "Hic Contendimus" c'è una ricetta semplice e sentita centinaia di volte, ma che se viene eseguita bene può risultare interessante anche nel 2016 e i Dulia hanno sicuramente centrato l'obiettivo. Inutile dire che il disco è rivolto principalmente agli amanti della vecchia scuola, che troveranno in questo trio un nuovo nome da seguire. Se quindi vi sentite parte di questa categoria, fate vostro questo lavoro senza esitazioni.
http://www.aristocraziawebzine.com/recensioni/7553-dulia-hic-contendimus
Formed just two years ago this is the first release by DULIA from Italy. Wondering about the band's name? Me, too. It means "veneration and invocation given to saints as the servants of God". And the music itself? Blackened Death Metal with decent keyboards. By the way, the band uses a drum computer, but in no way this has a negative effect. In fact I did not notice the properly programmed drum computer. If you need a comparison, the five tracks (plus the MYSTIFIER cover 'Beelzebuth', taken from the album "Göetia") remind me of DARKTHRONE albums like "Soulside Journey" or "Total Death". The one thing I miss about the songs is the vigorous effect of mentioned albums. Too many standard Black / Death Metal riffs and the songwriting seems a little bit undecided. Somehow I always waited for the songs to really to get started. But having in mind "Hic Contendimus" is the first release by the trio the material absolutely adequate. Not enough stamina for a full-length though, but definitely more quality than a demo tape.
http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/Albums-EPs-Demos/D/DULIA--10359.html
Слушаем громобойную дэтово-блэковую итальянскую формацию Dulia прямиком из Сицилии. Первачок — компакт-диск команды из трех человек с нечеловеческими именами. Эта явно не святая троица оптом и в розницу уже успела поучаствовать в порядка 15 командах сицилийского разлива. А это, сами понимаете, дорогого стоит. Могу и группы назвать, если кто не верит: Abgott, Beasts of Torah, Throne of Molok, Wolvesguard (live), ex-Fortiis, ex-Tuam Nescis, Psycopath Witch, ex-Tragoidia, Fogna, Kratos, The Krushers, ex-Necrosis, Plebe Rude, ex-Inchiuvatu, ex-Kawir.
И сразу насчет названия, если я понял правильно один католический словарь, — Dulia — это служение в честь святых, в отличие от служения богу. Возникает далеко не праздный теологический вопрос, а кому служит сабжевая формация? No problems! В буклете для вашего внимания напечатаны белыми буквами на черном фоне тексты, которые посвящены религиозной и мистической тематике, причем такой, которая явно изучалась не для праздного любопытства… Об этом также свидетельствует иллюстрация на обложке компакта, где изображен человек в гермошлеме, добивающий реликтовое животное, вероятно гигантское пресмыкающееся, которыми кишела Европа раннего средневековья. Вот так по незнанию уничтожается биологическое разнообразие планеты.
Итальянцы исполняют занозистый и вельми атмосферный блак-дэт, мощный, объемный, среднетемповый по скорости. А местами коммандос вообще тормозится, слегка только не дотягивая до дэт-дума. А где-то и дотягивая. Не зря на фбуке указаны вдохновители, повлиявшие на композера — CANDLEMASS, ROTTING CHRIST, MASTER’S HAMMER, NECROMASS. В целом Dulia обращается к историческому наследию, но не уничтожая его, как предки, а наоборот, порождая агрессивные сущности, что собственно и является целью стиля блэк металл.
Гитарная группировка в команде совершенно отвязна и зачастую будто бы вообще импровизирует, — такое свободное музицирование воспринимается как залог абсолютного чернокнижного произведения, где дух командует плотью, где пальцами струнников руководят тени прошлого, а пуще того — демонические создания из ближнего космоса, о которых и восклицает вокалист формации DULIA.
Надо заявить, что несмотря на стремление к олдскульным временам, группа демонстрирует вполне современное тяготение к многомерности — что выразилось в положенных дополнительных слоях, в которых прячутся то нечто похожее на молитвы, то мрачные композитные звучкИ, которые нагнетают дополнительного ужаса в психологически не простой ситуации на диске.
Пара слов о вокалисте DULIA, который еще охаживал четырехструнный инструмент. В его голосовую палитру (поллитру) входит несколько вокалов. Как несколько демонов импортированных в одного человека, эффект такой же. Один злобно расщепленный — почти трешево-дэтовый (ближе к харшу все-таки), «оскаленный» и нервный, однако в нужных местах сосредоточенный и экспансивный. Иной — более высокий, еще более психопатический. Несколько раз сыграна диалоговая схема, когда демоны переговариваются меж собой, то ли споря, то ли договариваясь.
В соединении участвует кстати и клавишник, и ему припасена работа: самый тонкий оккультный прононс и эзотерические стильные прогоны, особенно в траке 6. Здесь команда сделала очень знаковый для своего альбома кавер на культовый Mystifier, это трак Beelzebuth. Чем указала свои идеологические и методологические корни, а более напомнила искушенному металлическому меломану, что пора бы и переслушать кой-кого.
Этот диск DULIA появился на черный свет благодаря темнейшему сотрудничеству Symbol Of Domination — саблейбла Сатанат рекордс и двух винландских реномированных контор: Black Plague Records и Metallic Media.