When I first experienced Ponte Del Diavolo’s debut, Fire Blades From The Tomb (Fire Blades…), I was struck by the thought of metal music being seen as a vehicle of devil worship. Although this is seen as a tired yet inescapable cliché, some bands do dabble in this concept as a thematic point in their music. However, some actually commit to acting as a conduit to the dark arts, even as far down to how they present to others. The more I listened, the more I became intrigued in exploring Ponte Del Diavolo’s aesthetic and presentation, and how their music aims to be seen as part of their overall unorthodox appeal.
I have talked about the concept of ritual leading to transformation in the past (context), where the band in question not only transforms their music thematically and sonically, but also transforms themselves literally by changing their name to fit with the esoteric mysticism they were trying to convey. Within this context, not only has Ponte Del Diavolo been successful in transforming themselves into a conduit – with all the esoteric pomp they can muster – but can use this “power” to fully bring an entity into the world. The main difference here is that the ritual is not for personal gain, as was the case with Acherontas – rather, it is for the exultation of their deity. They are not seeking power for themselves; they are seeking a way for the entity to arrive.
A look at both their name and their past EPs seems to suggest that they have laid out the foundation to start the process. The term “ponte del diavolo” translate to “the devil’s bridge” in English, referring to the numerous bridges around the world said to be built by the devil in exchange for the first soul to cross them. The name also suggests that the band presents itself as unorthodox in both their sound and in their approach to summoning. Instead of using a grimoire or some form of scripture, the band would be using holy (menstrual) blood and some form of light or spark to begin the ritual. Thus, Fires Blades… starts with the aptly named “Demone,” a song whose lyrics sound like an incantation but act as a descriptor to what will happen once the devil is summoned. While the music’s aggressive pacing and fast tempo suggests that the incantation is a desperate, final attempt to summon the devil, the vocals on the slow parts of the song make it sound like a lullaby to lull the “eternal infant” (i.e. the Antichrist) that will appear somewhere on Earth.
However, despite this rather sweet inclination, the rest of the album is explicit in how the Antichrist will appear. In a sense, Fire Blades… is a step-by-step guide on how to summon, procreate, and raise a child to fulfill its dark purpose – or whatever the band-as-conduit deems as their purpose. From discussions of how to prepare the vessel that will hold the child (“Covenant”) to the breed the child will become (“La razza”) to the eventual catalyst that will set the child on their path (“The Weeping Song”), Ponte Del Diavolo makes it clear that this is their thematical purpose. The music composed for each song is an accompaniment to the summoning’s various steps, all different from each other, but united by their hazy and unorthodox nature. Ponte Del Diavolo uses their music as a set piece, effortlessly elevated by the darkwave-esque vocals provided by Erba Del Diavolo and the usage of two basses that adds a textured, punctuated feel to their atmosphere. The additional instruments used, such as the heavy synths, the theremin, and the clarinet, also give the music a strong psychedelic touch, as if asking the listener to believe that this is what’s supposed to happen. After all, you, as the listener, are the one watching this unfold, and you can’t help but be both impressed and intrigued by the band-as-conduit’s end goal.
Regardless of whether Ponte Del Diavolo succeeds in their presentation, no one can deny that they are a highly talented band. Fire Blades… is a fantastically strong debut, their instrumentation and atmosphere being the main highlights of the record. I found myself coming back to it numerous times, as I always found something new to follow, a musical thread that led to other hidden gems on a new listen. Romantic and bordering on new ideas to explore in a near future, Fire Blades… pushes boundaries in the doom/black metal sphere, and I am interested in seeing where the band heads next.
Hasta la proxima!
— Hera
Fire Blades From The Tomb will be available February 16 on Season of Mist. For more information on Ponte Del Diavolo, visit their official Facebook and Instagram pages.
Nine Circles 