Text reading 'Black Yet Full of Stars' in capital letters.
Photographic portrait of artist Carlo M. Dini, orchestrator and mastermind of Black yet Full of Stars. Black and white portrait of a man with glasses and beard.

Carlo M. Dini studied music on his own during his university years, switching his focus from classical to electric guitar, eventually focusing more and more on harmony and composition. He started Black Yet Full of Stars in Italy, and wrote his first release under the name Black Yet Full of Stars between 2010 and 2014, during the same years in which he had started studying orchestration.

The first release (self-titled, Rockshots Records, 2016) has been well received by reviewers and featured a much more trash and heavy metal influence. When Carlo moved to Amsterdam to complete his university studies and made of his orchestral music “hobby” his daily job, he also turned Black yet Full of Stars into his metal playground, and decided to experiment - within the metal music context - how the orchestra can be featured together with the band, changing line-up and finding new guests for his records every time. With influences ranging from Nightwish to Peter Gabriel, Carlo has created a sound that is both personal and epic in scale, and aims to make of Black yet Full of Stars a unique orchestral metal project.

Dark and dramatic artwork featuring two muscular figures engaged in a struggle, one hanging upside down with cloth draped around. The scene is black and white with an ominous atmosphere. The text reads 'Black Yet Full of Stars' at the top and 'Dark Wing Gospel' at the bottom.

The second title of Black yet Full of Stars, DARK WING GOSPEL, is written and produced entirely by Carlo, and was recorded with Michiel van der Plicht (Pestilence, God Dethroned, Carach Angren), Ludovico Cioffi (Delain, Modern Age Slavery, Nightland) amongst other incredible guests.

With elements of power, progressive, and heavy metal, DARK WING GOSPEL showcases all that Carlo has learned since starting his film scoring company in Amsterdam and it features unique taste in blending heavy guitar riffs, elaborate orchestral arrangements, dramatic symphonic choruses and unique harmonies, all driven by horror-themed lyrics, about an alchemist turned serial killer. The album is a triumph of self-production, with Carlo M. Dini taking full control of both the music and the lyrics, as well as the production and arrangement of each track, down to every minute detail.

The album was re-amped by Stefano Morabito (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Hideous Divinity) and mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni (Rhapsody, Vision Divine, Michael Romeo). The album’s sound is defined by its masterful use of orchestral arrangements, with lead singer Davide Penna seamlessly blending clean vocals with Ludovico Cioffi’s powerful growls, creating a dynamic and evocative listening experience. Massive sounding string sections, a fifteen people choir, and cinematic soundscapes are prominently featured, adding a lush, elegant and epic quality to the music that sets it apart from typical symphonic metal releases. Each track takes the listener on a journey through dark, introspective themes, exploring topics such as madness, art and alchemical symbolisms.

The orchestral version of the album, titled IN GLORIOUS RED, features all the songs with orchestra and voices alone, with extra in-between tracks.

  • "[...] An incredible, magniloquent, majestic work, that shows new sides of itself everytime. It’s impossible to not become enganged with an album of such quality"

    (9/10; Best self-produced Album of the Month), Rockhard Magazine

  • "Dimmu Borgir, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Nightwish and Adagio have one thing in common. They all wish their orchestrations were as good as those on Dark Wing Gospel"

    The ProgSpace

  • “Dark Wing Gospel utilizes all the arcane knowledge that came before it to craft a progressive, celebral symphonic metal experience that fully immerses the listener with its esoteric essence. The sum and substance of this album are found throughtout the genre and the style, but few can competently alchemize them in the way Carlo has done. Truly a magnum opus. These oeuvres trasmute a “basic” metal into a noble one, and make this album an absolute joy to listen to”

    (8.5/10), TNT Rock Magazine

  • "Dark Wing Gospel is an extremely well played impactful album, with grandious orchestral moments and great vocal lines. If one accompanies this listening experience to the one in "In Glorious Red", even the pickiest listener will be able to enjoy Carlo M. Dini's talents"

    Metal Italia

  • "A darker atmosphere, with big orchestrations, tearing heavy metal voices with the force of atomic bombs, and memorable growls. Top class arrangements and a songwriting that symphonic metal has completely forgot about for years. "Rubedo, The Artist" is an absolute chivalrous destruction that takes no prisoners. Sublime writing. High-class metal. Bravo"

    (9.8/10) SteelHammer

  • "Every single song generates an air of excitement and interest to see what lies around each corner. The riffs are excellent and beefy, the orchestration is tastefully and artfully placed and vocals are akin to the great Henning Basse. Every song is brilliant emotion, and a melodic thunder."

    Metal Underground

  • “[It] pedals a progressive, orchestral brand of power metal – think Black Halo era Kamelot on steroids — which grew on me very quickly, indeed. Black Yet Full Of Stars offers up a collection of muscular riffing fit for the upper echelons of the soul-soaring power aficionado”

    ANGRY METAL GUY

Press Photos, by Eddie Bovington, @Mill Row Club Photography Studio, London

Photographic portrait of artist Carlo M. Dini, orchestrator and mastermind of Black yet Full of Stars. A person with glasses, beard, and dark clothing standing in a dimly lit area next to a brick wall, with light bulbs in the background.
Photographic portrait of artist Carlo M. Dini, orchestrator and mastermind of Black yet Full of Stars. Profile of a man with glasses and a beard, wearing a dark jacket against a crumpled background.
Photographic portrait of artist Carlo M. Dini, orchestrator and mastermind of Black yet Full of Stars. Man with glasses and a beard sitting in a dimly lit setting, resting his chin on his hands.
Photographic portrait of artist Carlo M. Dini, orchestrator and mastermind of Black yet Full of Stars.. Portrait of a man with glasses, beard, and an ear piercing, wearing a dark jacket, against a textured background.
Photographic portrait of artist Carlo M. Dini, orchestrator and mastermind of Black yet Full of Stars. Man with glasses and beard in red lighting, wearing a jacket and turtleneck.
Photographic portrait of artist Carlo M. Dini, orchestrator and mastermind of Black yet Full. A man with glasses and a beard, wearing dark clothing, sits on a wooden chair in a dimly lit room.