Demonia Mundi
In Hoc Signo Vinces

Demonia Mundi are a black metal band from Reggio Calabria, formed in 1996 at the behest of singer Giuseppe Marino, with a career that has spanned over a decade in the Italian underground scene. With this "In Hoc Signo Vinces," the group has finally reaped the rewards of many years of rehearsals and continuous lineup changes, returning to the scene after a full 9 years since their last studio work, "In Daemonium Nocte," dated 1999.

What immediately stands out when listening to the album is the clear change in style compared to the past, because while works like "From The Deep..." from 1997 were inspired by Death SS, the new work consists of five pieces of symphonic black metal in the style of bands like Dimmu Borgir and Limbonic Art. Another novelty is the band's significant improvement in composition compared to their poor demos of the past, thanks to a new and effective lineup that has breathed new life into the group. The EP opens with "In Hoc Signo Vinces," an excellent opening track that closely resembles the Satyricon of "Dark Medieval Times," in some passages, combined with the symphonic style of early Dimmu Borgir, given the prominent keyboard present in all 23 minutes of the EP, orchestrated by the band's guitarist in collaboration with his brother, also a musician associated with bands in the Reggio scene. Other tracks to watch out for are "Demonia Bolla Summa," the most violent and impactful piece reminiscent of the best Marduk, and "Our Eucharist," the concluding track of the EP that picks up an excellent initial arpeggio written by a former band member, only to be developed and structured into a magnificent crescendo by the new lineup, a song in which "Demonia," the band's singer, particularly stands out, thanks to very distinctive vocal lines.

The only flaws of "In Hoc Signo Vinces" are a recording that is not particularly exciting and the fact that the work remains anchored to a rather dated musical genre. Nonetheless, it is an excellent resurgence of certain sounds, and in certain moments, the taste that Demonia Mundi has for melody is even better than that of the bands they are inspired by. Finally, if you are a die-hard fan of symphonic black metal, dive into listening to this EP without a second thought, but if you dislike the genre, give it a try anyway since the band is worthwhile and still relatively unknown.