Riul Doamnei - Biography
This band's profile is 'invisible', meaning that it's much less prominent on the site - either because it's incomplete, or maybe doesn't entirely fit MS format.
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Biography
Italian extreme metal quintet Riul Doamnei burst into life in 1999 with a relentless determination to carve out their unique path in the metal scene as if driven by the rapid waters of the river they're named after. Their moniker (which translates to "The Lady's River" in Vlad Ţepeş' language) evokes the suicide of the Impaler's wife in the face of imminent Ottoman captivity, and thus makes a statement against any form of slavery and limitations, religion being the worst of them.
Taking an iconoclastic approach to style, Riul Doamnei have created a gripping blend of genres that defies conventional categorization: their music incorporates the uncompromising aggression of death and thrash patterns and the atmospheric grandeur of symphonic black metal. Spastic, violent riffing and pummeling percussion harmonize with broad gothic overtures and melodic slices harboring blasphemous vocals and fiery ethnic elements - the result being a furious, dark and oppressive sound savoured by a wide audience.
Riul Doamnei have an extensive touring history, mainly in Italy and Eastern Europe, sharing the stage with the likes of Vader, Rotting Christ, Krisiun, Incantation and Marduk, reaping enthusiastic acclaim and growing a loyal fanbase. Over the years, the band has earned a special place in the extreme metal panorama, headlining a couple of underground festivals and events such as the Transylvanian Alliance Tour (already past its 4th successful edition).
After a self-produced demo, "Stramoniologie des Geistes" (2002), and an EP titled "Le Serpent Rouge" (2006), the band's first full length "APOCRYPHAL" is released in 2007 via Deadsun Records and distributed in Europe, Canada, USA and Japan to great international critical reception and incredible support of thousands of fans worldwide, which also brings the defiant quintet a nomination for "Best New Act of 2008" by Italian online media. "APOCRYPHAL" is a concept album based on the Gnostic Gospels, a journey through the real and primitive meaning of the Christian religion, back to its original essence, far from the manipulation, cuts and corrections applied by the millenary terrorist organization: the Church. The anti-religious trilogy started in 2006 with "Le Serpent Rouge" comes full circle in late 2011 with the release of "FATIMA" (via AXiiS Music), a controversially themed album backed in desecration by none other than Sakis Tolis of Rotting Christ with a guest performance on "Of Misery And The Final Hope". Receiving excellent critical and popular praise, "Fatima" pushes Riul Doamnei into the limelight.
Already in the making while Riul Doamnei were touring in support of their latest full length, a stylistically one-off project is completed and released as free download on January 1st 2013, showcasing the band's most experimental side to date: "A Christmas Carol" - the orchestral metal opera in 11 movements, based on Charles Dickens' classic novel and featuring iconic singer Cadaveria, garners further accolades and reaches to new audience as well.
Currently, what seemed to be one of Italy's best kept secrets in the metal scene - Riul Doamnei - is writing new material and planning live incursions in territories hardly reached before. As a matter of fact, freshly returned from a European tour including also 4 Romanian dates, the band was invited to perform on a major festival set to take place this late autumn in Bucharest: November To Dismember Metal Fest with Hail Of Bullets, Aura Noir, Impaled Nazarene and Ahab among others and was also confirmed as main support act for the only italian Arcturus gig. During summer 2014, Riul Doamnei will perform on the stage of other big festivals as Carpathian Alliance (UA) and Total Metal Fest (ITA).
Taking an iconoclastic approach to style, Riul Doamnei have created a gripping blend of genres that defies conventional categorization: their music incorporates the uncompromising aggression of death and thrash patterns and the atmospheric grandeur of symphonic black metal. Spastic, violent riffing and pummeling percussion harmonize with broad gothic overtures and melodic slices harboring blasphemous vocals and fiery ethnic elements - the result being a furious, dark and oppressive sound savoured by a wide audience.
Riul Doamnei have an extensive touring history, mainly in Italy and Eastern Europe, sharing the stage with the likes of Vader, Rotting Christ, Krisiun, Incantation and Marduk, reaping enthusiastic acclaim and growing a loyal fanbase. Over the years, the band has earned a special place in the extreme metal panorama, headlining a couple of underground festivals and events such as the Transylvanian Alliance Tour (already past its 4th successful edition).
After a self-produced demo, "Stramoniologie des Geistes" (2002), and an EP titled "Le Serpent Rouge" (2006), the band's first full length "APOCRYPHAL" is released in 2007 via Deadsun Records and distributed in Europe, Canada, USA and Japan to great international critical reception and incredible support of thousands of fans worldwide, which also brings the defiant quintet a nomination for "Best New Act of 2008" by Italian online media. "APOCRYPHAL" is a concept album based on the Gnostic Gospels, a journey through the real and primitive meaning of the Christian religion, back to its original essence, far from the manipulation, cuts and corrections applied by the millenary terrorist organization: the Church. The anti-religious trilogy started in 2006 with "Le Serpent Rouge" comes full circle in late 2011 with the release of "FATIMA" (via AXiiS Music), a controversially themed album backed in desecration by none other than Sakis Tolis of Rotting Christ with a guest performance on "Of Misery And The Final Hope". Receiving excellent critical and popular praise, "Fatima" pushes Riul Doamnei into the limelight.
Already in the making while Riul Doamnei were touring in support of their latest full length, a stylistically one-off project is completed and released as free download on January 1st 2013, showcasing the band's most experimental side to date: "A Christmas Carol" - the orchestral metal opera in 11 movements, based on Charles Dickens' classic novel and featuring iconic singer Cadaveria, garners further accolades and reaches to new audience as well.
Currently, what seemed to be one of Italy's best kept secrets in the metal scene - Riul Doamnei - is writing new material and planning live incursions in territories hardly reached before. As a matter of fact, freshly returned from a European tour including also 4 Romanian dates, the band was invited to perform on a major festival set to take place this late autumn in Bucharest: November To Dismember Metal Fest with Hail Of Bullets, Aura Noir, Impaled Nazarene and Ahab among others and was also confirmed as main support act for the only italian Arcturus gig. During summer 2014, Riul Doamnei will perform on the stage of other big festivals as Carpathian Alliance (UA) and Total Metal Fest (ITA).