Glorior Belli

Glorior Belli emerged as a French black metal outfit in Paris during 2002, built around vocalist-guitarist Infestvvs (whose other projects include Obscurus Advocam and Wolfe), bassist Dispater (also of Merrimack and Heol Telwen), and drummer M:A Fog (Disiplin). Two years after forming, the ensemble captured the demo Evil Archaic Order, then issued its first full-length effort, Ô Laudate Dominvs, in 2005. Both that record and its 2007 follow-up Manifesting the Raging Beast delivered raw, grim, and unyielding black metal that nevertheless proved unexpectedly memorable, echoing the approach of Deathspell Omega, Watain, and classic Mayhem. The project pressed forward with its sonic explorations by unveiling Meet Us at the Southern Sign in 2009. Eventually the French duo aligned with the storied metal imprint Metal Blade, which led directly to the autumn 2011 arrival of The Great Southern Darkness.