PRESS RELEASE:
Rockshots Records proudly announces the release of Horror Vacui, the new full‑length album from Italian melodic death metal force Karmian, available March 20th. A concept record rooted in true events, “Horror Vacui” marks the band’s most ambitious, introspective, and emotionally charged work to date, a descent into the psychological and existential void behind real acts of murder and moral collapse.
“Horror Vacui is the darkest and most introspective chapter of our journey. A descent into the psychological and existential void that hides behind real acts of murder and madness,” says the band.
Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Audiocore Studio by Luca Cocconi and Simone Sighinolfi, the nine tracks on “Horror Vacui” transform true Italian crime cases into harrowing portraits of human fragility, alienation, and the emptiness that breeds violence. Vocalist and lyricist Andrea Bertolazzi approached each story not to sensationalize, but to expose the void beneath the brutality. As he explains:
“We didn’t want to glorify horror; we wanted to expose its roots. This record is about the emptiness that breeds violence, and the fragile humanity that hides beneath.”
From the tragic collapse of nurse Sonya Caleffi to the cult‑like spiral of the Beasts of Satan, from the myth‑shrouded Alleghe murders to the disturbing obsessions of Marco Mariolini and Gianfranco Stevanin, each track becomes a psychological study rendered through Karmian’s signature blend of aggression, melody, and narrative depth.
With “Horror Vacui,” Karmian pushes their sound further than ever. The album fuses Swedish‑influenced melodic death metal with cinematic tension, intricate arrangements, and a raw, live‑driven production approach. Every instrument was recorded acoustically without studio trickery, preserving the band’s trademark authenticity.
“It’s our most mature and intense work to date, melodic death metal meets cinematic tension, raw energy, and psychological storytelling. We wanted the album to leave a lingering sense of inner unease, a discomfort that wounds, but is also exorcised through the act of listening,” adds the band.
The result is an album meant not just to be heard, but felt, a visceral experience that lingers long after the final note. The band hopes listeners will explore the layers of meaning, the connections to real events, and the emotional weight embedded in every riff and lyric.
“Horror Vacui” stands as Karmian’s most profound artistic statement, a fusion of philosophy, extreme metal, and psychological exploration. It is a record that challenges, confronts, and compels reflection on the abyss within.
Recommended for fans of The Haunted, Kataklysm, Heaven Shall Burn, At The Gates, early Dark Tranquillity, and early In Flames, “Horror Vacui” is available now as of March 20th, 2026, through Rockshots Records.
CD – “Horror Vacui” – https://rockshots.eu/products/karmian-horror-vacui-cd
Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/album/4lEIA86baPxAQIlIq7jCzE?si=4lFqJB9MQQGnYxBluhv5cA
Track Listing:
1. One Thousand Shining Bubbles – 06:38
2. Beastmaster of the Void – 03:21
3. Gott Mit Uns Nicht – 04:38
4. The Call of the Abyssal Bell – 06:17
5. Black Magical Soap Opera – 03:54
6. Temple of the Fleshless Goddess – 03:23
7. Libido et Mors – 03:40
8. Beyond the Dream Gate of Fear – 04:16
9. Maker of Angels – 04:43
Album Length: 40:50
Karmian Line-Up:
Andrea Bertolazzi: Vocals
Andrea Baraldi: Guitars
Michele Perla: Guitars
Luca Marmi: Bass
Nicholas Badiali: Drums
More info:
https://rockshots.eu/
https://www.instagram.com/karmian_official/
https://www.facebook.com/KarmianBand/
BIOGRAPHY:
Originating from Modena, Italy, Karmian stands as one of the most consistent and distinctive voices in Italian melodic death metal, forging a sound that blends raw aggression, melodic nuance, and strong conceptual depth. Their music draws from the sharp-edged intensity of the Swedish tradition while embodying a uniquely Italian sense of drama, history, and emotional resonance.
The band’s earliest incarnation dates back to 2005, when founders Andrea Baraldi, Mauro Leone, and Nicholas Badiali formed a project under the name When the Storm Broke. Though the group disbanded in 2009 after several lineup changes, the experience laid the foundations for what would later become Karmian. In 2011, the founding members revived the project with the addition of vocalist Andrea Bertolazzi, giving rise to the definitive identity of the band and solidifying their path within melodic death metal.
Karmian debuted in 2012 with the EP “Ways of Death”, a conceptual release exploring psychological decline and the “ways of death” – themes that would become central to the band’s artistic identity. Years of touring across Italy and Europe further strengthened their presence within the extreme metal scene, leading to their first full-length album, “Surgere et Cadere” (2018). Rooted in historical and mythological narratives, the album recounts the struggle of the Celtic Boii tribe against the Roman Empire, showcasing the band’s lyrical ambition and intricate musicianship.
Following extensive touring, including performances with Dying Fetus, Mortuary Drape, and Venom Inc., Karmian released “Live at Slaughter Club” (2022), a testament to their intensity and authenticity on stage. After the pandemic years, the lineup evolved with the arrival of Luca Marmi (bass) and Michele Perla (guitars), marking the beginning of a darker, more elaborate creative phase.
This evolution culminates in their most ambitious work to date: the 2026 full-length “Horror Vacui”, recorded at Audiocore Studio with Luca Cocconi and Simone Sighinolfi. The album explores the psychological and existential void behind real acts of Italian murder and madness, transforming nine true-crime cases into allegorical portraits of emptiness, collapse, and human frailty. Musically, “Horror Vacui” expands the band’s soundscape through intricate dual-guitar writing, powerful rhythmic structures, and Bertolazzi’s blend of guttural intensity and narrative expressiveness.
Across their discography, Karmian have built a reputation for merging conceptual storytelling with extreme metal intensity. Whether navigating historical epics or psychological abysses, their work is defined by a commitment to exploring the deeper forces that drive human behavior – resistance, decline, obsession, and the void within. “Horror Vacui” stands as the culmination of this journey: a mature, uncompromising statement of artistic vision, philosophy, and melodic death metal identity.
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