Six songs, more than an hour of music, an Epic/Doom/Prog Rock/Metal orgasm from these Italian legends and...who'd wait for DARK QUARTERER to (still) attack with full speed anno 2008? After 34(!) years of existence and - only - five albums, I now have no faith in the Metal community getting to know such a unique and 'extraordinary respect' act offering nothing less than quality music. Never mind...their fault.
Starting out as OMEGA ERRE, it was not until 1987 that the DARK QUARTERER same-titled debut was released (known as a trio till lately). Ever since, with works only when the band thought they had something to say, the know-how fan is pleased to receive each and every release with much of enthusiasm and less of conformity. DARK QUARTERER is applicable to your ears only if you're 'open' to invite the music of past decades veiled in a prism of progression. If your cup of tea is Epic Metal as witnessed by bands like MANILLA ROAD or CIRITH UNGOL in the 80s, then you fit the scene. If you prefer the 70s 'astral' Prog Rock of bands like GENTLE GIANT or APHRODITE's CHILD if your taste lays on the early MAGNUM/SAGA 'pomp' path, then DARK QUARTERER is for you, too. For your SABBATH/LIZZY Heavy Rock or 'obscure' NWOBHM likes, the band's here again. How much eminence, really?
For those aware og the Italian Metal scene of the 80s, ADRAMELCH's Irae Melanox is a nearby release in style. Still, it'd be unfair to create any relevance with anyone since DARK QUARTERER is a band with unique style. You see, first of all, six songs with average duration of ten minutes. Boredom, on the other hand, does not exist in the band's vocabulary. The structure, the change of icons, the integrity in songparts and the performance/attitude is something that will definitely leave you with the mouth wide open. 'Epic' gets re-defined in DARK QUARTERER's music, since this is the sole example you don't need to talk 'bout steel and swords only to make it heroic. Nepi's vocals, standing tall and proud, get high-pitched were needed while he delivers 'narrative' singing at times. His voice does not seem to have lost the aura needed through the years. Technical music - with an immense use of keys - brings on a stable structure of well written songs full of ecstasy and spiritual/ceremonial vibe, on the other hand.
DARK QUARTERER is a confident band, they've been playing way ahead more years than everyone else in the (widely) Metal world and the fact that they seem to be idols for Epic Metal fans speaks for itself. Beware, don't get prepared you'll listen to some guitar-and-only-driven 'battlefield' Metal over here. Said it before: the word 'epic' has a new meaning in DARK QUARTERER's hands. They are a 'weird' band for mainstream likes and Symbols is another 'weird' splendid release. There's no single song not winning over your conventionality, not a single one (OK, the ethereal vocals and the marching drum in Shadows Of Night will be memorable...).
P.S.: Really glad I had the chance to see them onstage last year.