Opera IX is an Italian black metal band from Biella, founded in 1988, known for combining extreme sound with occult and esoteric themes. The group became one of the most influential in shaping symphonic and atmospheric black metal in Italy. Founded by guitarist Ossian, Opera IX developed a distinctive style blending black metal with doom, gothic, and symphonic elements. Their debut album The Call of the Wood (1995) was a milestone in the Italian scene, while Sacro Culto (1998) solidified their reputation with complex compositions and occult lyrics. Later releases such as The Black Opera: Symphoniae Mysteriorum in Laudem Tenebrarum (2000), Maleventum (2002), and Strix – Maledictae in Aeternum (2012) showcased their dedication to dark aesthetics, drawing inspiration from occultism, paganism, and magical rituals.