Italian metal recommendations

Italy doesn’t get enough credit in the broader extreme metal conversation, probably because the country’s underground has always been more about filth than fame.

Below are some Italian bands you should absolutely dig into.

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- Bulldozer 

Genre: Blackened thrash/speed

One of Italy’s earliest and most notorious metal acts, raw and I'd say, Venomesque. 

Album: IX (of course) 

This record is a violent, ugly monument. Just how it should be.

 - Bunker 66 

Genre: Black/thrash metal 

Raw, dirty, speed-hell madness. Heavily inspired by Bulldozer, Midnight, Sodom (early). Must listen. One of my favorites. 

Album: Chained Down in Dirt

  - Morbus Grave 

Genre: Old-School Death Metal (OSDM) 

Death, filth and necromancy. Hidden gem in Italy’s underground death metal scene. 

Lurking into Absurdity (full-length debut) is an absolute blast of early '90s death metal necrosis.

- Deathrage

Genre: Thrash metal

Great raw late-'80s thrash with speed and aggression. Raw, unpolished production typical of underground tape-trading scene.

Album: Self Conditioned - Self Limited 

- Miscreance

Genre: Technical Thrash/Death Metal

A modern underground classic. Raw production, articulate riffs, part of a new generation of bands keeping the technical old school death/thrash metal spirit alive. Awesome for fans of early Atheist, Hellwitch, mid-era Death and 90's Pestilence.They know what they do. 

Album: Convergence

- Schizo

Genre: Proto-Death/Crossover/Thrashcore

Riffs are jagged, vocals deranged, drums pounding and unhinged. Tone is more primitive, unrefined, and full of fury. Perfect. 

"Main Frame Collapse" (1989)

One of Italy’s most vicious early thrash/death albums. Raw and intense.

- Sinoath 

Genre: Death/doom

A weird, beautiful, cavernous band. Too doomy for death, too death for doom. 

Their 1993 debut "Still in the Grey Dying" is a cult classic. Definitely worth a listen.

- Deathfucker

Genre: Raw blackened thrash

Fast, ugly as sin, no-frills production, crusty tones. Masterpiece. 

Album: Devil's Fist

- Necrodeath

Genre: Black/thrash metal

Pioneers of the Italian extreme scene, formed in 1984.

Album: Fragments of Insanity. 

↑Their demo "The Shining Pentagram" is also just as dope. 

Song: Deathfucker - Hell's Vengeance