The Black

Mario Di Donato (born 1951) is the leader and driving force behind The Black, an Italian doom/heavy/progressive project active since the 1970s. He is also a painter and often supplies his own artwork for the band's covers. The project is noted for Latin vocals, dark/mythological themes and a consistent underground following.

Frequently cited traits in the reviews: long career since the 1970s; Latin-language vocal passages; themes drawn from religion, Dante and mythology; Di Donato is also a painter and his artwork appears on several covers; some releases have been issued or reissued by the Black Widow label. Earlier bands mentioned in connection with Di Donato include Unreal Terror and Requiem. Guest musician Tony Pagliuca is noted on Ars Metal Mentis in the reviews.

The Black is the long-running Italian metal project led by Mario Di Donato. Reviews praise its doom/heavy/progressive blend, Latin vocals and painterly covers. Key albums discussed include Reliquiarium, Apocalypsis and Gorgoni. Overall reception on DeBaser is favorable, especially among aficionados of Italy's darker metal tradition.

For:Fans of doom/heavy metal, collectors of Italian underground metal, listeners of occult/progressive rock.