Release Date: 24.04.2026
Format CD/LP
Genre Heavy Metal
Origin Italy
Born in the volcanic shadows of Catania, Italy, Demon Spell emerged in 2024 to drag the sounds of the ancient crypt back into the light. After dropping the "Evil Nights" EP, these Mediterranean cultists spent their time sharpening their blades and brewing a debut that smells like old leather and sulfur. The lineup, Riccardo Liberti on bass, Dario Casabona on drums, Francesco Bauso on guitars, and Federico Fano on vocals, doesn't care about anything that happened in music after the mid-eighties. They are a coven dedicated to the old ways, trading in the kind of metal that thrived when the line between heavy rock and the occult was a blurry, smoke-filled smear.
"Blessed Be The Dark" is a trip back to a time when production was dusty and the vibe was more important than digital perfection. These Italians aren't interested in being the fastest or the loudest; they want to be the creepiest. The riffs are thick and mid-paced, dripping with a traditional doom influence that makes you think of fog-covered cemeteries. Federico Fano’s vocals have that classic, dramatic flair that fits the music’s ritualistic spirit. It’s a record that lives in the shadows of 1985, keeping things raw and primitive without looking for approval from the modern mainstream.
The songs on this debut, like "As Lucifer Smiles" and "Curse Of The Undead," show a band that has grown since their EP. The energy is focused, focusing on a dark atmosphere that feels like a long-lost tape you’d find in a dusty basement. "High On Sacrifice" and "The Tolling" bring a heavy, rhythmic pulse that keeps the blood moving while the guitar work stays rooted in the basics of early heavy metal. There is a certain theatricality to the performance that makes the whole experience feel like a sermon for the damned, especially when they lean into the slower, more ominous sections.
Even though the production is lo-fi and skeletal, the musicianship is there. Francesco Bauso’s leads have a spooky, melodic quality that complements the thumping rhythm section of Riccardo Liberti and Dario Casabona. Tracks such as "Dive The Hellfire" and "Premonitions" keep the momentum going, leading right into the title track, "Blessed Be The Dark," which anchors the whole release. It’s an album that focuses on the core of the genre, loud drums, haunting vocals, and guitars that sound like they were recorded in a haunted cathedral.
If you want something shiny and new, look elsewhere because Demon Spell is all about the old-school rot. This is a respectable debut that captures a specific kind of ancient darkness. It’s honest, it’s gloomy, and it’s Italian occult metal played the way it was meant to be played before things got complicated. For a first full-length, it’s a strong showing that proves these guys are serious about their devotion to the night. It’s a trip worth taking for anyone who misses the era when heavy metal felt like a secret society.
Score: 7.8
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