For those who dwelled in the '90s black metal underground and intrepidly moved into the new millennium knowing that foul changes were afoot, all contrary to notions of true "black metal" being supposedly "dead" at the time due to its progenitors breaking up or (mostly) moving on to careerist aspirations, DARVULIA should need no introduction. However, considering the band formed in 1999 and went to the grave 16 years later, perhaps a refresher is in order...
DARVULIA hailed from the esteemed French black metal underground - and by "French," we mean the lineage that started with the Black Legions and then carried forward with the likes of Osculum Infame, Blessed in Sin, Funeral, Bekhira, Seigneur Voland, Hirilorn, Winter Funeral, and very early Seth - that would blossom into something else entirely as that new millennium went on. Old souls from the start, DARVULIA honorably maintained the ripped-raw sickliness of the Black Legions with the more medieval atmosphere of that second generation, in effect keeping the flame burning for both distinctly French paradigms. Their infamy in the underground largely hinged upon their albums, starting with 2002's L'Ombre malicieuse (on the supremely cult D.U.K.E. label) and then 2005's L'Alliance des venins and 2010's Mysticisme macabre. As can be surmised by that chronology, DARVULIA patiently parceled out their creations, prizing quality over quantity, and not once misstepped during their existence.