Jacula

In 1968 the composer Antonio Bartoccetti founded the group Jacula, with a view to transform into music a series of theological-philosophical and esoteric observations. Jacula released the albums "In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum", "Tardo Pede in Magiam Versus". The project would end in 1972, then evolve into Antonius Rex and more album would follow under that name.
"In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum" is the debut album by Jacula. Self-released by the band in 1969 on their Gnome label, the album was released by Black Widow Records in 2001 in a highly edited version (according to guitarist and bandleader Bartoccetti) featuring Pro Tools, distorted guitars and samplers. Mysterious worlds, evocative church organ, innovative guitar, involving voices and lyrics, creative piano and synth, rhythms with tympanis.

In 1968 the composer Antonio Bartoccetti founded the group Jacula, with a view to transform into music a series of theological-philosophical and esoteric observations.
From the inner search to the magic worlds. Classic versus progressive contaminations. First ecological document, church organ, harpsichord, bass, mini-moog, violins, flutes, celebrating voices.

Ralefun (1979). Italian outfit Antonius Rex was formed in 1974, following the cancellation of Bartocetti and Norton's previous band Jacula. "Ralefun" from 1979 was their third full album production, and 32 years after it's initial release it is reissued for the second time courtesy of Italian label Black Widow. The mystical musical journeys of the Italian band Antonius Rex tend to be of a nature that will ever so slightly intimidate on first encounter. "Ralefun" is the sole exception of the creations in their back catalogue, sporting lighter, mystical and even accessible escapades. A relatively gentle introduction to the dark universe explored by Bartoccetti and Norton, and perhaps an ever so slightly surprising experience for those who have discovered this act in the last decade or so and who haven't started to investigate its past…

Dark and heavy prog band from Italy & Slovenia which inspires their music on the old silent horror movies. DEVIL DOLL's music has been described as "an elaborate and bombastic collision of styles" and "a perverse, yet brilliant soundscape of some forbidden netherworld"…

Italian group L'Albero del Veleno (The Poison Tree) released a well-received debut back in 2013 entitled `Le Radici del Male' (`The Roots of Evil'), a cinematic horror-influenced work of gloomy Goblin-styled pieces. It was a superb first effort from a talented bunch of young musicians, but now it almost seems like a mere practice run for what they've delivered here four years later! 2017's `Tale of a Dark Fate' is a fully instrumental rock opera told in two acts, conveying the stories of Hypnos and Thanatos, two siblings of ancient Greek mythology that reside in the underworld, and it holds all the moodiness and mystery of that legendary above-mentioned horror soundtrack group, but L'Albero del Veleno go much further…

A little known group, I Leoni, from Tortona (Piemonte, north-west Italy), had a short career that has just left us two singles and an album, all very rare, produced between 1970 and 1971. They were a trio, led by keyboardist/singer Carlo Riccardi, but all their compositions were by another Riccardi, Enrico, that was not a member of the group and was later an important producer (with popular Italian artists like Patty Pravo and Loredana Bertè). Despite being mostly in the melodic prog field, the ten-track album includes some good instrumental breaks, like in the hypnotic "Lo Stregone" (with organ, percussion and latin-sung vocals in a Jacula style) and interesting progressive arrangements like in "Jena Ridens" or the closing "Il Tramonto".
After the release of the album and the second single, the group brought its line-up to a four-piece with guitarist Paolo Stella and a good concert activity, until they broke up at the beginning of 1973.