SAN COSMO ALBANESE (CS), Municipal Amphitheater - 08/13/2024
Extreme metal is still very much alive in Southern Italy. Of course, the absence of the Agglutination Festival this year was felt, but the Dita e Draconian Metal Festival stepped up to fill the gap. Held in San Cosmo Albanese, in the province of Cosenza, and sponsored by the Lucanian festival itself, this event has become unmissable—especially thanks to the strong lineup of this edition.
The headliners are Sadist, one of the historic pillars of Italian metal, followed by Infernal Angels, fresh from their latest album Shrine of Black Fire, and the opening acts: Puglia-based Nemexist, local act Conspiration 88, and hometown band Fury of Elizabeth. A free event open to all, it unfolded in an unusual setting: the municipal amphitheater nestled between a church and a cemetery, with a dense area of vendor stands to the left of the entrance and the stage on the right. While the crowd was not huge, it was lively, enthusiastic, and ready for action.
FURY OF ELIZABETH
The festival was scheduled to kick off at 7 PM, but it was an hour later that Fury of Elizabeth took the stage to officially open the evening. Their performance was more than just a hometown welcome—it was a celebration and a tribute. The festival itself is dedicated to the memory of former vocalist and mastermind Angelo Miceli, aka Draconian, who passed away in 2014. The band honored him with tracks from their sole EP, Blood and Desire, some of which were sung in Arbëreshë (a variant of Albanian that has been preserved over centuries in Italy), proudly reflecting their roots. Despite the small audience, Fury of Elizabeth delivered a tight, entertaining performance with ease.
FURY OF ELIZABETH SETLIST:
Storm in the Forest
Liquid Eucharist
I tuoi occhi piangono sperma
Vajze e Mallkuar
CONSPIRATION 88
Next up were local melodic death metal act Conspiration 88, blending Dark Tranquillity-style influence with a groovier touch. They quickly captured the audience, igniting the first pogo of the night. Frontman Angelo Bianchi was in great form, and the band executed every passage flawlessly. Though their set was brief, it was one of the most convincing performances of the evening.
CONSPIRATION 88 SETLIST:
Seeker of Fire
Hidden
A step to godbye
In the Dark hour
The Curse of Tomino
NEMEXIST
At the exact midpoint of the festival, Nemexist took the stage. The Puglia-based band delivered a progressive death metal set, featuring tracks from their full-length Warmaster’s Blood. The performance was steady and precise, thanks to the musicians’ composure: frontman Alberto Colapinto balanced guitar and vocals perfectly, while Francesco Pipieri and Marco Messineo held the rhythm section firmly. After over 40 minutes, Nemexist left the stage to appreciative applause as the crowd prepared for the headliners.
NEMEXIST SETLIST:
Fateless
The Risen
The Awakening
Silent Insurrection
Subconscious slavery
Instinct of Rebellion
Warmaster’s Blood
INFERNAL ANGELS
Darkness had fully descended on San Cosmo Albanese, setting the perfect stage for Infernal Angels. With two decades of experience, six studio albums, and countless live shows, the black metal veterans delivered exactly what fans expected: candelabras lining the stage, heavy corpse paint, spikes, and an intense, ritualistic aggression. Frontman Xes unleashed powerful, earth-shaking screams while holding a skull like an occult relic, and guitarists Nekroshadow and Apsychos shredded relentlessly. Their set covered nearly their entire discography, focusing on their latest release, Shrine of Black Fire, which has been well-received by critics. Their performance was arguably the highlight of the night so far.
INFERNAL ANGELS SETLIST:
A Gateway to Purification
The Etereal Fire of Golachab
Ancient Serpent of Chaos
Pestilentia
Abyss Oath
In the Silence ov Theom
The Horizon eats the Sun and other star
The Flame Burns Brighter in the Darkness
Fire As Breath
Encore:
Thagirion: Sol Niger
Empress of Sitra Achra
Beleth: Lord of Chaos and Spirals
SADIST
Past midnight, it was time for the final and most anticipated act: Sadist. As pioneers of death metal in Italy since 1991, they blend death and progressive metal, representing everything fans could hope for. With a career including major festival appearances—most recently at Genova Summer Live alongside Fulci, Carcass, and Infected Rain—and influential albums under their belt, they were ready to deliver a memorable show. Trevor excelled both in vocals and crowd interaction, shouting during a pause: “To hell with that bland music offered to us every day! We’re here for our music, our passion, and we have to keep it alive!” The audience responded with a thunderous standing ovation. Guitarist Tommy Talamanca flawlessly alternated between guitar and keyboards, rounding off a flawless, hour-long set that spanned tracks from Above the Light and Tribe.
SADIST SETLIST:
Jagriti
One Thousand Memories
The Birds
Season in Silence
Perversion, Lust, Orgasm
The Path
Sometimes They Come Back
Escogido
The Lonely Mountain
The Attic and The World of Emotions
Accabadora
Tearing Away
Encore:
India
Tribe
WRAPPING UP
The night ended on a high note, with fans mingling and chatting with band members. The only downside was the small audience—a shame, considering the event’s excellent organization, impressive lineup, and large venue. But rather than a flaw, it serves as a starting point. With all the right ingredients, the Dita e Draconian Metal Festival has the potential to become a major fixture for extreme metal in Southern Italy.
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