DI'AUL
Garden of Exile

THE REVIEW

In the Lombard dialect, “Diaul” means devil, and what music other than heavy metal could be more fitting for such a name? Well, here we are with these Di’Aul and their “Garden of Exile,” an album that clearly showcases its southern/sludge vein right from the start. It's not an album for everyone; I'd almost say it targets a very niche group of metal music listeners. The reason is simple: this Pavia-based band couldn’t care less about what works and what doesn’t in the music business, focusing instead on what they truly love. A handful of musicians who grew up with Eyehategod and Crowbar on constant rotation and are undoubtedly skilled at conveying that hostile atmosphere in their compositions. “Garden of Exile” is a hostile piece to listen to, with its rough sound and no potential radio hits. In their tracks, it’s evident how well these musicians understand a genre meant for a select few—guitars with dirty and ultra-heavy riffs, a crude and rough vocal style, and, the cherry on top, a production that is anything but crystal clear. As mentioned earlier, Eyehategod is the focal point from which everything seems to have originated, with that natural inclination towards what most people would define as unlistenable music. Di’Aul is a band with a dark soul, as demonstrated by titles like “Funeral Blood,” “Mistery Doom,” and “Black Snake Voodoo,” perfect for adding even more charm to an already intriguing project. If you too are fascinated by this type of work, here’s one proudly made in Italy for you.