🎶 Duir
🌎Verona, Italy
📀 Catarsi
® AOP Records
📅 26/06/2026

Italian outfit DUIR return with their second full-length album, Catarsi, an ambitious concept work set against the backdrop of World War I. Through six expansive compositions, the band narrates the journey of a young soldier who begins his march filled with pride, only to find himself confronted by despair and oblivion, musically capturing the psychological burden of war.

At its core, Catarsi is firmly rooted in atmospheric black metal, yet it is enriched by numerous folk elements as well as occasional post-metal and doom influences that lend the album a cinematic quality. The curtain rises with “Manifesto”, whose calm guitar-driven introduction gives little indication of the devastation that is about to unfold through the ferocious and abyssal vocals of Vox in Umbra. At one point, TZ’s flute introduces the first traditional melodies, offering an early glimpse of the significant role folk instrumentation will play throughout the record.

“Di Nessuno” builds its momentum around P’s steady and dynamic drumming, while TZ once again leaves his mark through the use of bagpipes, bringing the band’s Celtic influences to the forefront for the first time. After all, the band’s name itself derives from the Celtic word for “oak”, a symbol of wisdom and longevity.

The album’s third track, “Impeto”, features a guest appearance by L.G. of ELLENDE, whose performance adds a pervasive sense of despair and hopelessness. Within the context of the album’s wartime narrative, his vocals can easily be interpreted as the anguish of a soldier witnessing an inevitable defeat approaching. The flute and hurdy-gurdy further distinguish the song, creating an intriguing contrast with the harshness of its black metal foundation.

“Della Notte”, the album’s sole instrumental piece, revolves around a persistent and almost obsessive motif that evokes feelings of claustrophobia, effectively portraying the psychological collapse of the protagonist.

As the album approaches its conclusion, “Del Giorno” explores DUIR’s post-doom metal side more extensively, opening in a noticeably less aggressive manner than the previous tracks. Nevertheless, it remains faithful to the overall atmosphere and direction established throughout the record.

The closing track, “Oltre L’Alba”, begins with bagpipes accompanied by the distant sound of the sea, transporting listeners to the Scottish Highlands before Vox in Umbra storms in with tremendous force. Unlike the other songs, the folk and Celtic elements remain present throughout most of the composition, giving it a distinctive identity. Combined with its effective shifts in tempo and mood, it stands as one of the album’s most complete and memorable moments.

Overall, Catarsi is a compelling album in which DUIR successfully incorporate a variety of influences into their atmospheric black metal framework. While a lack of compositional variety occasionally prevents the record from reaching its full atmospheric potential, the overall result remains highly satisfying. The contribution of L.G. from ELLENDE, alongside the excellent production work of P.G. from GROZA, further highlights the influences that shape DUIR’s sound—a delicate balance between melody, atmosphere, and the aggression of black metal.

 ★ 7.5/10
✍🏻 Kostas Boudoukos