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Unearthing the Metal Underground: Italy's Deadly Carnage

Deadly Carnage has been marching forth for nearly 20 years. The Italian ensemble’s earliest of days were rooted in truly primitive black metal, including gems like the 2006 demo “Noise of War, Noise of Doom” and the more melodious 2008 debut album “Decadenza” that foreshadowed the metamorphosis ahead. Deadly Carnage transformed into a post-black metal band that at times sounds more Opeth than black metal at all. They’re now poised to release their fifth full-length, “Endless Blue,” digitally September 15 and as an LP on December 15 via ATMF’s sub-label, A Sad Sadness Song.

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“Endless Blue” is vast, spacious and progressive, to be sure, yet the tense and more distorted portions do pull from the spirit and sounds of the band’s early days. But with that said, somber, soothing melodic vocals and swelling instrumentation more prominently color the release. “Endless Blue” is a concept album rooted in Japanese folklore. Inspired by the legend of Urashima Taro, the album tells the tale of descent into and ascent from the haunting world between the marine surface and the abyss. On “Moans, Grief and Wails,” epic and evocative black metal riffing drives the story of a vengeful, cloaked spirit that capsizes the ships it encounters with desperation and blind rage. “Endless Blue” is indeed an interesting album, thematically and musically, that’s perfect for those who enjoy post-black metal and progressive metal.