Italian black metal outfit, Duir, return with the powerful Catarsi.
DUIR
“Sono il sangue versato, senza pietà” (Manifesto)
I am the blood spilled, without mercy.
Duir, from the Celtic language meaning “oak”, return with Catarsi, the Italian word for “catharsis”. Not to be mistaken for the East Midlands folk trio DUIR!, the Italian black metal outfit return with their fourth release since their formation in 2014. Perhaps most famous for bringing the bagpipes into their folky black metal, this is another record that will appeal to fans of the genre.
The album narrative depicts a young soldier during the First World War “caught between pride, despair, and oblivion”. Immediate comparisons can be made with a range of bands that utilise the “great war” for their music. For Catarsi, Duir are ably assisted by PG (known to attendees of Fortress Festival 2026 opening act Groza), who mixed and mastered the album.
MANIFESTO
Manifesto kicks off the album with a riff reminiscent of 70’s prog, but we aren’t subjected to much confusion when the vocals kick in, summoning the pounding percussion and furious riffs that we all expect from black metal. The lyrics, in Italian, begin the tale of the soldier:
Ed io soldato che avanzo (And I, a soldier advancing)
Fango freddo morde e mi abbraccia (Cold mud bites and embraces me)
Respiro confuso il vento in inverno (I breathe the confused winter wind)
Siamo ombre sotto un cielo morto (We are shadows beneath a dead sky)
Siamo solo figure che senz’anima avanzano (We are but soulless figures moving forward)
The imagery will be familiar to anyone with more than a passing interest in the world wars, or even movies about the wars. The ten minute opener captures the attention of the listener, leading into Di nessuno. This second track is more direct than the first, hammering straight in from the first moment. Its unmistakeable folk-black metal, and it carries yet another catchy central riff, underlaying folk with pounding percussion and furious guitars.
We move on to Impeto, which features a guest appearance from LG of Ellende. Bagpipes ring out throughout this one “Non temere la battaglia, non temere che sia l’ultima” (“Do not fear the battle, do not fear it will be your last”).
RELENTLESS PACE
Della notte is without lyrics, but features the flute prominently without ever losing the albums frantic pace, and leads us into Del giorno. There, Non gridate più (“shout no more”) is the cry, but the song, which begins in a more sombre tone, quickly picks up the pace and aggression.
Album closer, Ottre l’alba, is another track that runs close to 10 minutes. Its an absorbing album, and an onslaught consistent with the central character and their fraught journey through WWI. The music, layered and skillfully crafted, is relentless – short interludes aside – and consequently its hard to pick a stand-out track from the album. Overall it is a compelling album, aggressive and despairing in equal measure.
Duir: Bandcamp