Djunah returns with a noise-rock opera about complex trauma, inspired by Italian horror films

Djunah released one of my favourite rock albums of the last couple of years with ‘Femina Furens‘. Three years later, Djunah is entering a new era, and Donna Diane wrote and performed it all herself rather than it being a band effort. The album was born out of playing around with analogue synths and enjoying 60s and 70s Italian slasher-horror film soundtracks, known as giallo. Moving away from power chords, the evolution of Djunah has taken us to cinematic metal and the incorporation of a horn section. In the album announcement, Donna says that having a horn section in a metal album was a personal dream come true.

‘Rotting Age’ is the lead single, and it is a cataclysmic explosion of energy. Between the feedback harmonics of sharp chorus riffs and the blasts of horns acting like a mini symphony in the verses, this is a cinematic sound. Traditionally, you’d hear strings where the horns play, and the interplay between horns and electric guitar solos feels more oppressive and destabilised than most symphonic rock. That is also in part due to Donna’s bellowing vocal approach. She rages war, raw, like a warrior. Add in some heavy kick drum flair, and you’ve a pulsating horror show to embrace. I don’t have any experience with giallo movies, but if it’s anything like a Hammer Horror, the overtly chaotic guitar solo fits perfectly.

‘Rotting Age’ is taken from the forthcoming album, ‘Giallo’, and is out now. ‘Giallo’ is slated for release on 30th October. Ah, the perfect release date for horror prog metal! You can pre-order the album on Bandcamp. The vinyl comes with a lyric and poetry book.

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