Dark Quarterer (Italian epic progressive metal)

For all of you wondering about my avatar (the one I've had since I came here as a matter of fact, hehe), it's an album cover, and what an album it is!

Dark Quarterer has been playing their own brand of ever changing progressive metal since they started out in 1975, and have only released five full length albums during the 35 years of their existence. Granted, all of them sound different (except the first two... arguably their best albums). The first two albums are masterpieces of epic metal with progressive touches, the third record is more of a heavy rock album, yet it retains that progressive feeling, the fourth album is much more of a modern album, as it also has influences from more modern types of metal, and the fifth album is more of a hybrid between Deep Purple and Dream Theater (if that makes sense).

Needless to say, the first one (which is my avatar) is my favorite album, and one of the most influential albums to my guitar playing and songwriting (although I'm not nearly as good as the guitarist they had back then... ha!). I can urge anyone that likes their metal highly original, epic and slightly progressive to check 'em out!

Make sure to turn your sound up though, the record wasn't exactly recorded properly.



The first line up rehearsing a song off of the first LP.



Off of the second LP, you can hear that it's in the same vein as the first one. I much prefer the first album though.



Off of the third LP. By now the original guitarist had left, although he still wrote this song.




From the fifth album, again with a different guitarist.



From the new live DVD Under the Spell. This is a song from the first album played by the same line up that recorded the fifth album.

Couldn't find anything from the fourth album on youtube, unfortunately. Enjoy!

I'll check this out later, but I checked out these guys years ago and it didn't do it for me. But it's worth another listen.

They played here in Norway in January, I think. I didnæt go though, as I had never heard their music before.

Yeah, they played with The Lamp of Thoth and Slough Feg among others. Would've loved to have gone to that festival. That's three of my favorite bands right there.

No other reactions? Come on guys.

I will give thread some luv since I know what it's like to have little to no replies.. Who needs to discuss bands they haven't heard, on a discussion board, after all?

First song: Surprised to find the debut is from '87 (not a bad thing). Vocals are sounding like vintage Eric Adams mixed with Rob Tyrant in places (who, in another prog connection, has sang with the New Trolls). He's in a strange place in the mix which takes some getting used to, but that was enjoyable. I can definitely see how they would fit on a bill with Slough Feg (well, it's the other way around)... I have to say though, I enjoy this better than all the Slough Feg I've heard......yeah, sue me everybody. Still though, it wouldn't make me get the album. Is it a highlight of the album or the only thing you could dig up online?

Second song: Sounding more streamlined but it isn't sticking as much as the first song. Sometimes bands trade off like that. Riff at 5:43 that happens a couple of other times in the song would later be directly lifted, accidentally or intentionally, by Praying Mantis on the song 'You'll Never Know'. Praying Mantis rules btw. But that is the exact riff AND tone.

Third song: No. Directionless traditional/prog, like old Liege Lord filler. Vocalist is sounding like a more neurotic Fish on this song.

Oh yeah, Praying Mantis are great. Never heard the similarity til you mentioned it now, but it's pretty clear. I doubt that they stole it from Dark Quarterer though. They weren't even famous in their own country, so let alone in the UK. Besides, the Troy bros were never big metal fans anyway.

I like a lot of Italian metal, so this intrigues me.

Listening now ...


Not bad. Not bad at all.

I'd buy this!


I also like what I've heard of Praying Mantis.

Italian metal is definitely great, although the newest wave of flower power metal bands doesn't interest me at all. The Italian scene in the 80s was amazing: Dark Quarterer, Death SS, Paul Chain Violet Theater, Run After To (still don't get the name though ), Danger Zone, Old Yron etc, etc,

The best Italian bands out there IMHO:

Vision Divine
Secret Sphere
Rhapsody
Luca Turilli
Lacuna Coil


yeah - I like the new wave of Italian metal myself. Those are all some of my faves right there.

Haha, Rhapsody and Luca Turilli, now that's a blast from the past! I used to love that stuff when I was like eight or nine years old and had already been listening Maiden, Priest and KISS for a couple of years. Nowadays I can only laugh when I hear them. It's just so over the top and terrible imo.

I am a big Labyrinth fan, the self titled, 'No Limits' and 'Return to Heaven Denied' are some of my absolute top favorites in anything resembling European power metal, usually very misunderstood as well. Never thought most of Vision Divine's (the band Olaf Thorsen went full time with) stuff could even compare, whereas I still enjoy how Labyrinth progress..well, except for the last one they did.

White Skull also has some great stuff, though way too inconsistent unfortunately...Same with Rhapsody, if you made a big best of album it would be incredible but a couple of albums as albums have got some bad filler. Luca solo I mostly don't care for but I love his second one, and the different approach on there, the electronic influences and chamber choirs, good stuff, melodies people would kill to write.

Can't stand Lacuna Coil, don't much like Secret Sphere..

Bulldozer is another good older band...

Tried to get into Moon of Steel once but it just wasn't happening...may revisit that one..

I just finally got around to listening the clips Dave posted and I like what I hear. I like the NWOBHM sound I'm hearing. I might have to investigate a little further.

ADRAMELCH is the best Italian metal band!

I'm guessing the debut with the mystical-power-metal looking cover is the better album, since I've only heard the one they put out wayyyy later and I mostly heard what *could have been*..

I think their latest one is much better.

Dave the Boss wrote:

Haha, Rhapsody and Luca Turilli, now that's a blast from the past! I used to love that stuff when I was like eight or nine years old and had already been listening Maiden, Priest and KISS for a couple of years. Nowadays I can only laugh when I hear them. It's just so over the top and terrible imo.

No not terrible at all. Great stuff.

Hell of a lot better than Dark Quarterer.

DQ is good, but not great. This is some pretty basic stuff here.

Rhapsody and Luca Turilli could run circles around them with their eyes closed though.

When it comes to Italian metal - there is really none greater than:

Vision Divine
Secret Sphere
Rhapsody
Luca Turilli
Lacuna Coil


Nothing else can touch them.

By the way ... that's just my humble little opinion there guys.

Sorry if I came across rude. That's not what I meant. lol.

Vision Divine..man, 'A Perfect Machine' and the s/t have got some really good songs, but I'm telling you, check out Labyrinth also, which Olaf left, both the stuff he's on and after. 'The Prophet', 'New Horizons', 'Freeman', 'Lady Lost in Time', 'This World', 'In the Shade'...good songs to start with.. smokesssssss.

Does anyone like Ephel Duath? Also from Italy. Changed from experimental/psychedelic black metal to some kind of strange odd mix of Dillinger Escape Plan and Miles Davis. Probably garbage to most people, but I really like the 'Painter's Palette' album, despite none of the songs conjuring up their respective colors for me.

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

Vision Divine..man, 'A Perfect Machine' and the s/t have got some really good songs, but I'm telling you, check out Labyrinth also, which Olaf left, both the stuff he's on and after. 'The Prophet', 'New Horizons', 'Freeman', 'Lady Lost in Time', 'This World', 'In the Shade'...good songs to start with.. smokesssssss.

Does anyone like Ephel Duath? Also from Italy. Changed from experimental/psychedelic black metal to some kind of strange odd mix of Dillinger Escape Plan and Miles Davis. Probably garbage to most people, but I really like the 'Painter's Palette' album, despite none of the songs conjuring up their respective colors for me.

I only have one Labyrinth album - and frankly I'm not impressed with it. Perhaps it's one of their duds? It's called "Sons of Thunder".
You know how you get a bad album - and it sorta gives you a bad first taste? This might be the case here because I hear others rave on Labyrinth too.
Vision Divine just rules.

Never heard of Ephel Duath.

Orion, you strike me as someone who could appreciate the genius of Secret Sphere. Very melodic power metal with passages of prog and even glam metal. Interesting combo to say the least!

Secret Sphere is probably my second favorite Italian band right now ... after Vision Divine of course.

Metallic Blaze wrote:

By the way ... that's just my humble little opinion there guys.

Sorry if I came across rude. That's not what I meant. lol.

Hey man, it's your opinion, everyone's entitled to one right? I just plain don't like flower power metal anymore. Whatever floats your boat right?

Some more classic Italian metal:







I just love the creepy sound a lot of those bands had. Awesome stuff.

Yeah, that's some good stuff Dave.


I guess I just like both new and old school stuff.

Everyone that liked the early Dark Quarterer stuff will probably dig Etrusgrave as well. The guy that played on the first two DQ records formed this band a couple of years ago, and they released their first album in 2008. The sound is really a continuation of the early DQ sound. Hell, even the vocalists sound alike!