Paul Chain Violet Theatre

The Profile

Paul Chain Violet Theatre was the mid-1980s project of Italian musician Paolo Catena (aka Paul Chain), launched after his departure from Death SS. It marked a conceptual break from satanism and a move toward doom metal infused with psychedelia, progressive leanings, organ-driven ambient passages, and vocals often delivered in an invented phonetic language.

Founded by Paolo Catena (Paul Chain), an Italian ex-member and founder of Death SS; active 1984–1987; early releases include Detaching From Satan (1984), In the Darkness (1986), and Opera 4th (1987); stylistically rooted in doom/heavy metal with psychedelic, progressive, and ambient elements; frequently used phonetic/invented language rather than English; Detaching From Satan recorded by a trio with guest Gilas; conceptual detachment from satanism is explicit.

Three reviews chart Paul Chain Violet Theatre’s shift from Death SS to a darker, exploratory doom. Detaching From Satan (1984) signals a clear break from satanism and English lyrics, leaning into invented phonetics and Sabbath-rooted heaviness. In the Darkness (1986) earns high praise for immersive doom with psychedelic hues. Opera 4th (1987) splits ambient/organ explorations and heavy metal tracks, showcasing bold experimentation.