HELLMETALL - Mgła (CD)

HELLMETALL are a Thrash/Death Metal band emerging from the remote mountain valley of Resia, in the far North-East of Italy near the borders of Austria and Slovenia. Standing among the very few extreme metal bands performing entirely in an ancient Slavic dialect, the group has forged a uniquely recognizable identity by transforming the forgotten history, language and atmosphere of their homeland into an intense and uncompromising musical experience.

Founded by vocalist, songwriter and mastermind Daniele Micelli “Picet”, HELLMETALL was born from a vision that combined the violence and speed of classic Thrash Metal with the folk traditions deeply embedded in the culture of Val Resia. Surrounded since childhood by the sound of local violins, cellos and traditional mountain melodies, Micelli envisioned a project capable of merging extreme metal aggression with the ancestral spirit of the valley itself. From the very beginning, the decision to write and perform entirely in Resian - the archaic Slavic language historically spoken in the region - became the defining element of the band’s artistic identity.

What initially started as a raw underground project gradually evolved into a far darker, heavier and more mature musical entity. HELLMETALL’s early material incorporated stronger folk elements and even violin arrangements, leading several underground webzines to describe the band as a “Thrash Folk Metal” act. That phase culminated in the release of the debut album "Sa Naso Semjo" in 2015, a record that established the band’s foundations through a violent mixture of Thrash Metal intensity, Death Metal heaviness and folk-driven melodic textures.

Following lineup changes and the departure of the violinist, the band naturally embraced a more aggressive direction rather than attempting to replicate its earlier formula. Over the years, HELLMETALL progressively sharpened their sound into a darker and more destructive blend of Thrash, Death and blackened extreme metal while preserving the melodic tension and atmospheric depth inherited from their origins. Razor-sharp riffing, militant rhythmic structures, feral vocal delivery and bleak melodic passages became increasingly central to the band’s songwriting approach, giving HELLMETALL a far more cohesive and recognizable sonic identity.

This artistic evolution reaches its most complete form with Mgła, the band’s upcoming second full-length album scheduled for release in 2026. Meaning “Fog”, "Mgła" represents a decisive step forward in every aspect of HELLMETALL’s sound and songwriting. Darker, heavier and considerably more focused than its predecessor, the album expands the band’s original Thrash/Folk foundations into a far more atmospheric and aggressive Thrash/Death Metal direction enriched by blackened overtones and emotionally charged melodic dynamics.

At its core, "Mgła" is an album built around war memory, historical trauma and territorial identity. Every song is connected to real events tied to the First and Second World Wars, specifically those involving the mountains, villages and people surrounding Val Resia. Rather than approaching history from a distant or academic perspective, HELLMETALL channel these stories through personal memory, local oral traditions and a deep emotional connection to their territory.

The title-track “Mgła” recounts the gas attacks carried out by Austro-Hungarian and German troops against Italian soldiers during World War I battles near Bovec (Plezzo) in Slovenia, translating the suffocating horror of chemical warfare into oppressive atmospheres, relentless drumming and crushing riff work. “Gemona Btg. Doesn’t Exist Anymore” pays tribute to the Alpini soldiers of the Julia Battalion “Gemona”, first deployed in Albania and later devastated by the sinking of the ship Galilea before many survivors were ultimately sent to die on the Russian Front. “Vojussa’ Blood” draws inspiration from Micelli’s grandfather and the bloody battles fought on Mount Golico in Albania, while “The Curse Cave – Foibe” confronts one of the darkest tragedies connected to the Foibe massacres. Elsewhere, “Go To Die” denounces the absurdity and political vanity behind World War I, while “Lest We Forget” reflects on the brutality shared by both Nazi concentration camps and Soviet Gulags.

Musically, HELLMETALL thrive on contrast. Their songs alternate violent riff-driven assaults, blast-fueled aggression and stomping mid-tempo sections with highly memorable melodic passages and cold atmospheric tension. The Resian language itself plays a crucial role in shaping the sound of the band, giving the vocal lines a uniquely harsh, ritualistic and deeply evocative cadence that amplifies the emotional weight of the compositions. The result is a sound that feels simultaneously ancient and ferocious - rooted in underground extreme metal tradition while carrying a cultural identity rarely heard within the genre.

The album also reflects the rebirth and stabilization of the band itself. While much of the earlier material was composed primarily by Micelli during years marked by lineup instability and personal sacrifices, the current incarnation of HELLMETALL has evolved into a far more cohesive and collaborative unit. Over the past two years the band has consolidated both musically and personally, with all members actively contributing to the songwriting process and helping shape the strongest material of HELLMETALL’s career so far.

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Davide Zago with drum engineering handled by Pablo De Biasi, "Mgła" captures the raw intensity and organic violence that define HELLMETALL while delivering a more mature and impactful production compared to the band’s previous works. The album never sacrifices authenticity for polish, preserving the aggressive underground spirit that remains central to the band’s identity.

Beyond the studio, HELLMETALL have steadily built a reputation as a powerful live act driven by spontaneity, raw energy and an uncompromising underground attitude. Their performances combine military-inspired aesthetics, relentless stage presence and an authentic connection with the audience, reinforcing the same intensity that defines their music. Following extensive activity across Italy and their first tour in Poland, the band has progressively expanded toward Eastern Europe, where their unique cultural identity and aggressive sound have started attracting increasing attention within the underground metal scene.

2026 marks a major expansion phase for HELLMETALL with an Eastern European tour scheduled for May, an appearance at the Kaltenbach Open Air in August, and a return to Poland later in the year for additional European dates and a dedicated mini-tour.

With "Mgła", HELLMETALL are not simply releasing another extreme metal record. They are transforming forgotten war memories, ancestral language and the scars of a mountain borderland into a violent, authentic and deeply personal artistic statement - one where history, identity and aggression converge into a sound unmistakably their own.

MARKETING & PROMOTION / SELLING POINTS

- Second full-length album by thrash/death metal band HellMetall
- For fans of Bolt Thrower, Sodom, Vader, Kreator, Asphyx