With a strong passion for drums since the early childhood, Giulio Galati started taking drum lessons at the age of 10 with Armando Bertozzi, Stefano Rossini, Daniele Pomo (St. Louis College of Music), Lucrezio De Seta, Ettore Fioravanti (Santa Cecilia Conservatory of Music) and Giampaolo Rao.
The educational path led him through different music styles like jazz, Latin, fusion, and rock. Thanks to the influence of all these styles and the variety of music listened to, he evolved to metal drumming and to the use of the double pedal by developing a personal language that attempts to melt together everything he has been and continues to be exposed to.
Huge inspirations were and still are Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Kiko Freitas, Gavin Harrison, Mike Portnoy, George Kollias, Derek Roddy, and Thomas Haake.
This play-through is Giulio Galati playing ‘Anamorphia Atto III’ from the “Simulacrum“ album released in 2019 on Century Media Records.
Giulio’s Gear:
Wood: American Walnut
Kick Hoops: Olive Tree/American Walnut
Finish: Satin Oil
Kick:
22″x17″
Rack Toms:
8″x7″, 10″x7,25″, 12″x7,5″
Floor Toms:
14″x13″, 16″x14″
Gong Tom:
20″x10″
Asian China 20″
Shiny China 20″
Nebula China 21″
Stax – Primitive China 20″/Asian Crash 19″
Raw Ride 22″
Aslan Hi-hat 14″
D Hi-hat 14″
Nebula Splash 8″
Hazor Splash 6″
Stax – 3 cut Crashes by 11″
Darwin double pedal (short board/strap drive)
EVO Drumsticks – XLT model
Band Line-Up:
Enrico “H.” Di Lorenzo – Vocals
Enrico Schettino – Guitars
Riccardo Benedini – Guitars
Stefano Franceschini – Bass
Giulio Galati – Drums
Hideous Divinity Links:
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As with all Hideous Divinity albums, Simulacrum was recorded, mixed and mastered at 16th Cellar Studio by long-time producer, engineer, and friend Stefano ‘Saul’ Morabito. Two months in the making, the difference between Adveniens and Simulacrum is, however, evident. On tracks like “Deleuzean Centuries,” “Anamorphia Atto III,” “Actaeon,” and “Implemini Exitio,” the separation of guitars, bass, drums, and vocals is expertly handled, as is the cohesion of it all. At no point does the Morabito production fail to communicate Hideous Divinity’s message. In fact, few albums of Simulacrum’s intensity, cruelty, incisiveness, and intricacy sound this clear and forthright. If Daedalus made death metal it’d likely be approached sonically and aesthetically like Simulacrum.
“The sessions were cozy and draining at the same time,” Schettino says. “Stefano is like the sixth member of the band; his 16th Cellar Studios are like a second home to us. Nevertheless, we all felt the pressure of the new album and record deal, including him. Therefore, we struggled like never before to achieve perfection in what we recorded. Nothing was left unchecked.”
To visually cement the musical and lyrical theme, Hideous Divinity once again hired Russian illustrator Vladimir ‘Smerdulak’ Chebakov to visualize Simulacrum. To connect the albums visually, important ideas were carried over from Adveniens. The link between the two covers is intentional but not something Hideous Divinity are willing to hit fans over the head with. There’s a new creature afoot on Simulacrum but somehow the odious beast is familiar. This, of course, was by design.
“Vlad’s style is like good wine,” says Schettino. “This time we knew where to point him. We spoke the same language from the beginning, and we wanted him to give birth to a new creature that would give, with his body size and detail, a sense of vertigo similar to what you can experience while looking at Max Ernst’s ‘Fireside Angel.’ Then he had the intuition of the character tearing his face out… we loved it from the first moment. He gave us a narrative element resembling the unchained wind surrounding Adveniens’ angel.”
Where Hideous Divinity take Simulacrum is altogether known. First, the Italians will find death and destruction with fellow death metallers and grindcore maniacs at Belgium’s Masters of Grind 2019 in the quaint town of Sint-Niklaas. Second, they’ll (planned before Covid-19) embark on a busy 2020 tour itinerary to expose Simulacrum’s merciless technicality and sinister atmosphere to fans the world over. Hideous Divinity are: Enrico Schettino (guitars), Enrico ‘H.’ Di Lorenzo (vocals), Giulio Galati (drums), Stefano Franceschini (bass), and Riccardo Benedini (guitars). Join them in unpropitious vertigo and vexatious madness on Simulacrum. Hail tech-death metal. Bow down to Hideous Divinity!
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