Strana Officina

The Profile

Italian heavy metal band from Livorno founded by the Cappanera brothers with Enzo Mascolo; fronted by Daniele “Bud” Ancillotti from the early 1980s. Early EPs featured Italian lyrics, followed by English tracks on The Ritual and the classic LP Rock & Roll Prisoners (1989). After the 1993 deaths of Fabio and Roberto Cappanera, the band reunited in 2006, releasing The Faith (re-recordings) and the studio album Rising To The Call (2010).

Formed in Livorno; key members include Fabio (guitar) and Roberto (drums) Cappanera, Enzo Mascolo (bass), and Daniele “Bud” Ancillotti (vocals). Early material in Italian; shift to English with The Ritual. LP Rock & Roll Prisoners released in 1989. Fabio and Roberto died in a car accident on 23 July 1993. Reunion at Gods of Metal in 2006; subsequent releases include The Faith (2007) and Rising To The Call (2010).

Reviews celebrate Strana Officina as a cornerstone of Italian heavy metal from Livorno: early EPs in Italian, then English with The Ritual, and the classic Rock & Roll Prisoners. The 1993 accident that killed Fabio and Roberto Cappanera halted the band until a 2006 reunion. Later releases include The Faith (re-recordings) and Rising To The Call (2010). Live write-ups praise a tight, powerful stage presence and enduring fan devotion.