Based in Rapallo on the Italian Riviera, Azrael are a six-piece heavy metal outfit whose story is one of incredible resilience. Originally formed in 1988, the band spent their early years playing the Ligurian circuit and writing original material inspired by the legends of the 80s. However, the dream was cut short in 1994 when founding guitarist Andy Lijoi was forced to step away from music for health reasons. For over two decades, it looked like the end of the road.
Against the odds, Lijoi returned to the instrument in 2002, and spent the next twenty years slowly rebuilding what had been lost. On 1st May 2026, that journey culminated in the release of the band’s debut EP, Clockwork Abyss. The five-track record, featuring the single “Chinatown,” is a testament to the band’s uncompromising DIY spirit; it was written, recorded, mixed, and mastered entirely in-house without the support of a label or outside producer.
Despite the lack of a press agent, the band’s return has already caught the attention of the international metal community, with features and review requests coming in from as far afield as Canada and Australia. The current line-up—built around Lijoi and featuring vocalist Federico Travi, guitarist Edoardo Napoli, keyboardist Mik Radogna, bassist Gianluca Eroico, and drummer Daniele Di Tullio—has successfully captured the raw energy of the era they were born from, while proving that it is never too late to finish what you started.
Fans of classic heavy metal should also check out the debut album from Seattle’s Telomyras.
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Azrael: official | facebook | instagram | bandcamp | youtube
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