This Italian Black Metal band have been around for some time now, yet remain quite small fan wise.
They are known for their ex-vocalist Cadaveria, who also has her side projects, but she is one of the greatest female growlers i have heard for sure, as varies her technique into clean vocals too.
One other quite noticable point about Opera IX, is the guitar riffs, once you hear them, they never leave your ears!
I was wondering what everyone thinks of their progression through albums, they have always been Black Metal, but always have different elements, like on Call Of The Wood, there is Folk elements, on The Black Opera, there is Gothic Elements, and the latest album Anphisena has Viking Elements, or moreso, is as Viking Metal as you can get.

I love the fact that they always evolve. But it makes is so hard to pick a favorite album .

I only own tha album 'Maleventum' so I can't comment on their progression but I love their vocalist. She growls better than some males! Anyhow, could someone recommend me their best album effort?

Written by Daru Jericho on 17.05.2006 at 03:45

I only own tha album 'Maleventum' so I can't comment on their progression but I love their vocalist. She growls better than some males! Anyhow, could someone recommend me their best album effort?

It's really hard to recomment an album from them, because they do progress a lot. Dark Cornatus did a great job at explaining the different aspects of Opera IX so to speak. So it's up to what you might like better. I personally loved The Black Opera the most.

@Daru: Maleventum features a male vocalist, Cadaveria left before this album, are you reffering to other songs yu have heard about the vocals, or just got mixed up (though its not hard, as she grolws like a man )

The Black Opera is overall the best album, by popularity. Maleventum happens to be their worst effort too, though contains killer tracks.
If you like this abum definatly check out the rest, i havent heard Sacro Culto yet, its next on my list.

Opera IX album Black Opera is darkest album in existence it's dark black very scary stuff ooo ghosts "shivers"

One of the most original and impressive black metal band that I have listened to. The Black Opera.. is a masterpice, so soft yet so brutal. I simply love what this band has done over the years.

Written by Dark Cornatus on 17.05.2006 at 10:37

@Daru: Maleventum features a male vocalist, Cadaveria left before this album, are you reffering to other songs yu have heard about the vocals, or just got mixed up (though its not hard, as she grolws like a man )

Oh damn. I downloaded this album after I heard they had a female vocalist. I guess I'll have to download an earlier album. Thanks for telling me haha.

Ive only heard The Black Opera, and i actually quite like it. Never thought i would, cuz black isnt really my thing overall. But i havent heard any other albums, so got no idea how their sound changed. Must remember to check them out someday

This is one of best Italian BM bands who is know outside of Italy, becaus ethere are many many more good bands in Italy who are non so kown but amazing.

About Opera XI I hawnt origan albums, only MP3 and thay are great, but diferent in periods, seems there are folk influencies, but lyrics are amazing too, and I waish see them playing live.

@Daru: No worries, Make sure you hear The Black Opera

@Daphne: Yay, good to know you like them

@k7: The Folk influences are found on their first album Call Of The Wood and the latest album, Anphisbena, is Viking metal.

My order so far is this:
1.The Black Opera (Gothic/Black Metal)
2.Anphisbena (Viking Metal)
3.Call Of The Wood (Experimental Folk/Black Metal)
4.Maleventum (Black Metal)

Sacro Culto (havent heard yet)

Written by Dark Cornatus on 17.05.2006 at 19:52


Sacro Culto (havent heard yet)

Really? That's a shame, it is a very good album, it would be 2nd in my list. If you want, give me a PM and I'll send it to you

@DA I know and still its great but viking metal, well I dont agree, I must listen them one more time, but not viking metal or maybe

Like others I only have The Black Opera. I love it, it's so beyond words. Cadaveria sounds like no one else; I would so much love to see her perform live, to feel her intensity!! Even without her though, the music on The Black Opera is so engaging. Both both aspects together and you have a killer album

@Damnated: Nah man, as soon as i find it on eBay, ill buy it, its ok, ive heard it is one of their best too, i just cant find it everywhere. Appreciate the offer though!

@k7: I am only referring to the latest album Anphisbena, and its pure Viking Metal to me.

@Lyrinan: Great words!

Written by Susan on 17.05.2006 at 21:59

Like others I only have The Black Opera. I love it, it's so beyond words. Cadaveria sounds like no one else; I would so much love to see her perform live, to feel her intensity!! Even without her though, the music on The Black Opera is so engaging. Both both aspects together and you have a killer album

Written by Daru Jericho on 17.05.2006 at 03:45

I only own tha album 'Maleventum' so I can't comment on their progression but I love their vocalist. She growls better than some males! Anyhow, could someone recommend me their best album effort?

You're wrong about this, if you've only heard Maleventum then you haven't heard the female vocalist, Cadaveria, because Maleventum was the album released after her departure, the vocalist in that album is called M, after him came Madras, but I've slight suspicions that's the same person, although I must say, in Anphisbena (the album which followed Maleventum) he learnt how to growl, honestly, I think Maleventum is their worst album, it is bad quality and a pathetic atempt to get back on their feet after Cadaveria's departure.

On the other hand when Anphisbena was released, I felt like I could breathe; Opera IX has been one of my favorite metal bands of all time, honestly I love this band more than I can describe, thus I was GLAD to see this thread after the old forum archive was gone, anyway after their last album, which is unbelievable proof that they're still there ruling the world with their hands tied behind their backs and a shark nibbling on their weewees, I was again proud to say this band is tattooed in my life eternally.

Anyway as I said, I'm glad I found this topic, in my opinion their greatest album is The Black Opera, you know... Symphoniae Mysteriorum in Laudem Tenebrarum... something like that, I really like the guitar riffs and the combination with the keyboards, that's my favorite thing in the album but I must admit, Cadaveria's vocals completely improve it ^^ another confession, I think Anphisbena is their second best album, it's a really close match between them two albums, and I sustain, if Cadaveria had done vocals in Anphisbena, it would have been a lot better than the Black Opera, but I'm not really complaining about the vocals on that album, I think it was a great job! and those strange tracks... omg *love*

Anyway, yeah... so that's what I think </crazyfan>

Written by Linak on 22.07.2006 at 09:21

Written by Daru Jericho on 17.05.2006 at 03:45

I only own tha album 'Maleventum' so I can't comment on their progression but I love their vocalist. She growls better than some males! Anyhow, could someone recommend me their best album effort?

You're wrong about this, if you've only heard Maleventum then you haven't heard the female vocalist, Cadaveria, because Maleventum was the album released after her departure, the vocalist in that album is called M, after him came Madras, but I've slight suspicions that's the same person, although I must say, in Anphisbena (the album which followed Maleventum) he learnt how to growl, honestly, I think Maleventum is their worst album, it is bad quality and a pathetic atempt to get back on their feet after Cadaveria's departure.

Yeah, someone else corrected me about that. I downloaded Black Opera Symphoniae Mysteriorum but have only listened through to it once. Must give more listens soon.

Please do so, it is one hell of an album I promise lolz

I wonder what they are up to recently.... id love to here some more material soon.

Well I think it might take a while before any of that happens, since Lunaris left the band some months ago and just recently they got a new keyboardist called Faun, so I guess it'll take some time before they start recording again.

Ugh, I so liked Lunaris u_u' oh and also, I don't know if you know but Sacro Culto was re-released last year haha, I had no idea oh well, if someone hears it please report back here!

I still need to get Sacro Culto. Grr. My next cd to get. My favourite album is The Black Opera, followed by The Call Of The Wood, Anphisbena and Maleventum. I dont actually mind Maleventum Laura, you seem to not like it at all. I mean tracks like Unearthed Arcana and Forgotten Gods are amazing. It is their weakest effort though, alot of the songs are nothings.

Yes, like Maleventum itself, pff, that is just BAD, like something you would come up with while being drunk and about to pass out, just horrible, my heart aches when I think about it u_u; ugh, such a disappointment, oh well, I forgave them after Anphisbena ^^ so they are back to being my tweasures ooh~

I listened to their "anphibena", a great album. The symphonies are quite ariginal, and catchy. The vocals are also very powerful. The composition is great!

Does someone knows about band nowdays thay dont update band home page and myspace too are thay still actice?

O God.... I really don't know why I didnät check this band out before. I feel so ashamed because today I was at the cd shop and saw their debut "The Call of the Wood" quite cheap and I was like "Aaaah, yeah I know this band a bit... This time I will check them out".

And so did I... I listened to the song "Sepulcro" and I shat bricks... Really. Around the minute 6:20 there was some organs that were incredible and along with the crushing riffs it was so brilliant.
I'm gonna buy some stuff, for realz.

Band updates:
Unfortunately Dipsas, due to a serious accident which will keep her off for operations and rehabilitation treatments until summer 2023, the band with great regret will not be able to participate at the Rock Hard Festival Italia on January 28th.
We apologize to all our fans and promise to be back on stage the next fall.



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