Italian sludge unit MAGNITUDO have announced the upcoming release of their new EP, “Scotoma”, on September 22nd, 2023. The band’s new chapter, follow-up to “Men Against Fire” (2018), was recorded, mixed and mastered by Danilo Battocchio, sound engineer for Tons and Imperial Triumphant, among many others. The first single “Monument” is now streaming HERE. The EP displays a more metal approach, compared to its predecessors: the heavy and expansive sounds make way for more violent and incisive tones, with very few moments of atmospheric ambience.
The band’s signature wall of sound, which has always characterized their style (influenced by sludge/post-metal bands such as Neurosis, Ufomammut, Lento, Cult of Luna, etc.), is still present, but it’s darker and more angular than before. The drumming, once slow and rhythmic, has become faster and more pounding, with the bass called to support the structure with a highly distorted tone. Despite two-thirds of the lineup being replaced, “Scotoma” reflects the band’s desire to maintain a stylistic coherence while not forgetting its classic extreme metal roots. The common thread of the tracks is “scotomization”: the mental ability to delete and forget a trauma or an overwhelming event, the concept of exorcizing evil through various distractions – alienation, sex, death.
In short, these four songs are the offspring of our time. The track “The Algorithm” features Michele “Mike” Basso from Viscera/// providing backing vocals and adding extra layers of discomfort to a claustrophobic and distressing atmosphere. Tracklist: 1. Monument
2. The Healing
3. The Algorithm
4. Rebirth MAGNITUDO started in late 2015, consisting of three members: vocals/guitar, bass and drums.
The project draws inspiration from post metal and sludge genre and aims to reinterpret both genres in order to achieve a more personal and original result within an overwhelming “wall of sound”, especially during live performances.
In 2016, the band recorded their debut “Si Vis Pacem” at Deepest Sea Studio (Danilo Battocchio -
https://danilobattocchio.com) in Turin and released the effort via Sepulcral Silence (EU/UK).
In 2018, the band released “Men Against Fire,” recorded at Trai Studio in Inzago (MI).
The band received several positive reviews from the local media and started performing in various venues across northern Italy and Switzerland.
From the end of 2019 until the end of 2021, due to artistic differences, Dario (vocals/guitar) parted ways with the other members, retaining ownership of the project. Due to the pandemic, the band remained dormant for a while. At the end of 2021, Dario restarted gathering ideas, welcoming Marka (Mind the Gap, Officine Swartz) on drums. With the help of Danilo Battocchio (Last Minute to Jaffna, Tutti I Colori Del Buio, sound engineer for Tons, Imperial Triumphant, etc.) on bass, they composed, arranged, and recorded the tracks for a new EP, set to be released at the end of 2023.
In 2022, Zana (Kazamate, Pugnale, Dark Tennis, and session drummer for the Danish band Telos) joined
as the permanent bassist. MAGNITUDO https://www.facebook.com/magnitudoband https://www.instagram.com/magnitudosludge/ https://magnitudo.bandcamp.com/ | 
