The Black "Abbatia scl. Clementis" LP

This is nothing but a lost gem of Italian metal underground. Mario Di Donato was painter, metal pioneer, and sadly departed legend who left behind a strange and powerful legacy. His band The Black may be known for doom-laced heavy metal, but Abbatia Scl. Clementis (1993) stands out as something altogether different: a raw, underproduced thrash/power metal anomaly, wrapped in medieval mysticism and Latin liturgies. Blending eerie keyboards, Gregorian touches, and reverb-drenched organs with fast, gritty riffing reminiscent of early Slayer, Judas Priest, and Mercyful Fate, this is an album that feels like it came too soon for its time. Imperfect, atmospheric, and driven by Di Donato’s unique vision, it offers 30 minutes of obscure, aesthetic-heavy metal that fans of Death SS, early Sodom, and traditional underground sounds should not overlook. A rare, cult artifact from the Italian scene that is raw, ritualistic, and strangely compelling. Originally put out on CD by Minotauro Records in 1993 and reissued on vinyl by Horror Records in 2015.