INCANTVM Maleficia CD

Prepare to enter a world of ancient witchcraft, forgotten rituals, and Italian occultism. Incantvm, the dark and mysterious project from the visionary Vittorio Sabelli (the mind behind Dawn of a Dark Age), returns in 2025 with their sophomore masterpiece, Malefici. Released via the esteemed My Kingdom Music, this album is a profound exploration of Folk-Dark-Doom that transcends the boundaries of traditional metal, weaving together the grim atmosphere of the 14th-century Inquisition with the sophisticated textures of the clarinet and operatic grandeur. The journey begins with the haunting Rinascita, a rebirth into a landscape of shadows, before moving into the narrative weight of Donna prudentia. Incantvm excels at creating a cinematic and theatrical experience, reaching a fever pitch with the sprawling, seven-minute ritual of Gli esorcismi di Canidia e Sàgana. However, the true centerpiece of the album is the monumental, ten-minute epic Incantvm / Kyrie. In a daring and brilliant move, the band reinterprets Mozart’s Requiem K626, blending classical mourning with heavy, darkened doom in a way that feels both timeless and terrifying. The album concludes with the spectral presence of Diana, leaving the listener submerged in the folklore of the Italian Stregheria. This CD edition is an absolute must-have for fans of the Italian Dark Sound (think Antonius Rex or Jacula) as well as those who appreciate the avant-garde brilliance of bands like Elend or Septicflesh. Malefici is not just music; it is an invocation of the past, a sonic grimoire that belongs in the collection of every connoisseur of the macabre and the magnificent.