Doomed Confessionary: Paolo, Emanuele, Daniele M., Riccardo & Daniele V. (Swarm Chain)
Swarm Chain is a five-piece doom/death metal band from Piacenza, Italy. Founded in 2020, Swarm Chain consists of Paolo Veluti (vocals, bass), Emanuele Cirilli (vocals), Daniele Mandelli (guitar), Riccardo Tonoli (guitar) and Daniele Valseriati (drums).
The band is about to release their second full-lenght album »Cernunnos« on November 28th, 2025 via Underground Symphony. »Cernunnos« marks Swarm Chain’s first-ever concept album: across 5 towering tracks it translates into music the fear and awe of a primitive man facing the forces of untamed nature and its enigmatic creatures, perceived so dangerous and inexplicable, and thus given occult or divine origin.
Driven by the creative contributions of the new members Riccardo Tonoli and Daniele Valseriati, Swarm Chain takes their sound to darker and heavier depths, delivering the most atmospheric and drenched in sorrow work to date. »Cernunnos« is a descent into a primordial world, doom-laden, death fueled and carved with anthemic and monolithic riffs.
Can you please say a few words about your band?
We formed in 2020 – everything started one night in Germany. Three of us were playing in another band back then, and we were at a gig where the headliners were a doom metal act. We were so blown away by their set that, as soon as we got back home, we started writing some doom tracks ourselves. Before we knew it, we had the songs that would become our debut album, »Looming Darkness«.
Since then, there’s been a lineup change on drums and we’ve added a second guitarist, leading to the lineup we have today.
Our main trademark is the interplay between growl/scream vocals and clean vocals, weaving together throughout the songs. Our take on doom metal is also shaped by our diverse musical backgrounds – in our tracks you’ll find not only the classic doom elements, but also touches of death metal, gothic, and heavy metal, all blended into what we call the Swarm Chain sound.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
The toughest part was definitely writing songs in a genre we weren’t used to. We’d all had previous songwriting experiences with other bands, but always in very different styles – none of them doom. So yeah, at the beginning there was that fear of not being able to pull it off. But in the end, we did it, and we’re really proud of our two albums!
It was a challenge, for sure, but at the same time it came naturally – we were genuinely excited by the power of the riffs and that overall atmosphere: slow, melancholic, and mysterious
What can you be most proud of so far?
Reaching the milestone of our second album, getting ready for the upcoming live shows, handling the album promotion, and already thinking about writing new songs – all of that shows we’ve found a solid balance within the band, and we’re really proud of it!
We’re super excited to get back on stage and play our music in front of a live audience again – there’s nothing that compares to that rush!
What was your biggest regret?
The writing and recording process for our second album, »Cernunnos«, took way longer than we originally expected. This time, the process also involved the members who joined the band after the first album was written – so it was absolutely worth it, but it did take more time. That ended up costing us a few precious months, which we’re now definitely planning to make up for!
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
We’ve had the chance to play »Looming Darkness« supporting several bands, and a couple of nights really stand out – especially the one where we opened for Left ti die, a band made up of former Death members playing songs from the early albums, and the show with Shammash, which was an amazing night overall, both as a band and as fans of the headliners.
When you play alongside bands of that caliber, the crowd is absolutely fired up – the energy is insane, and you can feel it hit you the moment you step on stage!
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Maybe it’s because we’re not kids anymore, but it’s getting harder to find something that truly blows us away – something genuinely new, you know? It still happens, but only on rare occasions.
Most of the time we end up spinning the bands that made history – the ones we were listening to twenty years ago – or just picking stuff at random, hoping to stumble upon some unknown act that really shakes things up.
That said, we’ve actually discovered some killer underground bands that we really got into after sharing the stage with them. Those moments remind you that the underground still has a pulse – you just have to dig deep enough to feel it.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Deftones – Private Music
Orbit Culture – Death Above Life
Psychonaut 4 – …Of Mourning
Paradise Lost – Ascension
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Always stay professional! In the music world you often run into people who don’t really take things seriously, but that’s not us. We take our passion for music – and everything we do – very seriously. Every commitment we make, we follow through with it and give it our absolute best. That’s just how we roll.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Each of us has our own tastes when it comes to guilty pleasures… but sadly, they’re secrets we can’t reveal! We’re simple men with a burning desire to have fun – draw your own conclusions!
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Piacenza?
The Italian metal scene is seriously on fire right now! There are tons of underground bands like us – passionate, skilled, and constantly putting out new music and content; even up here in northern Italy, there’s a thriving community full of killer acts doing their own thing.
Then you’ve got the more internationally known names like Messa, who recently played here in Italy alongside Paradise Lost, or Forgotten Tomb, who just dropped an outstanding new record, and of course the legendary Novembre, making their long-awaited comeback this November with a brand-new full-length. It’s a great time to be part of this scene!
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
The new album is coming out in November, so our live shows will be focused in 2026, mostly in Italy. Our agency is taking care of the event planning – we already have several contacts open, a few confirmed shows, and a European mini-tour in the works, but the dates aren’t locked in yet.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Right now we’re focusing on promotion and getting the new album’s songs ready for the upcoming shows. Once that’s all set, we’ll definitely start working on new material – we don’t want too much time to pass between this record and the next one.
How can people best support your band?
As you well know, in the underground music world, there are no big labels or deep-pocketed backers. Bands pour their own blood, sweat, and money into every aspect of their craft -recording, releasing, booking shows, merch… everything. The best way to support us? First and foremost, come see us live. Then grab some merch at the table or online. Every purchase, every like, every show you attend fuels us, lets us feel your support, and gives us the strength to keep tearing forward!
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Give us a chance! Our brand-new album is dropping at the end of November, and the video for the first single is already up on YouTube and all the streaming platforms – plus you can grab a free download on our Bandcamp page!
If you dig what we do, you can also pick up some merch there and show your support.
Massive thanks to everyone who’s been backing us, and a huge shoutout to Doomed Nation for giving us the space to spread the word!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well