Salvatore Mercatante : Strega III: Dianus Of Doorways

I first heard New York City’s Salvatore Mercatante way back in 2019 with his excellent dark synth/Giallo exploration Il Lamento della Strega. I was blown away by it as it felt like it was pulled out of some alternate reality; Gothic undertones and 70s Italian horror come together to make this beautiful and eerie sound world.

From there I was hooked. Albums like The Foundations of Eternal Sin, Tre Sfere, Machine Memories(collaboration with Veins Full of Static), POST and SM Synthesis are just a few of the amazing records Mercatante has released over the last five years with many amazing indie labels like Noci Miste, Waxing Crescent, Woodford Halse, and Castles In Space.

Salvatore Mercatante has returned with his Library Of The Occult Records debut, Strega III: Dianus Of Doorways. Continuing his exploration of  the Italian dreamwalking spirits, the Benandanti, Salvatore Mercantante finished out his trilogy in quiet dread and meditative doom. Mostly dream-like ambient moments with touches of 80s electro grooves strewn out for rhythmic touches, Strega III: Dianus Of Doorways keeps the mood in the nighttime. This is music for dusk, for waning shadows, and for those things that go bump in the night when the shades are pulled and creatures begin to stir.

“Dianus Of Doorways” emanates from the speakers like a signal from beyond looking for connection. Synth tones reveal an unknowing; intentions hidden in electronic pulses and ominous mood. It greets us at the door and lets us know what we’re getting into. “Fresh Earth” is tribal and organic, like sifting through jet black soil as your heartbeat moves with dark malignancy, while “Unseen Circle” becomes kinetic and propulsive with electronic drums and a menacing synth that is part circuital push and animalistic growl.

Elsewhere “Malocchio” starts out in a frenetic beat and bass-y synth notes, conjuring countryside castles and Gothic doom, while “Bone Temple” sits in a mood of melancholy and underlying tension. There’s cosmic touches with the dream-like “Veil of Shadows”, while album closer “Arise, Again” opens in optimistic tones. It’s as if waking from a dark and unsettling dream to sun shining through the window. A feeling of hope emanates after darker moods, only for things to slide into overcast indifference with buzzing synthesizer and baroque touches.

Salvatore Mercatante’s Strega III: Dianus Of Doorways exceeds on all levels, giving us quiet unease and eerie melancholic moods throughout his excellent new LP. A perfect album for those overcast days.