Italian gothic rock duo QZ, the collaborative project of Davide Quinto and Alessandro Zelferino, have released their debut EP Black Flowers via Morella Records. The four‑track work — steeped in cold, atmospheric darkness — was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Federico Pianciola at Mandala Studio in Turin.

Although newly formed, QZ is the result of two musicians arriving with years of experience and more than a few scars. Both Davide and Alessandro have long been active within Turin's underground scene, shaping their craft in previous bands before finally converging on the sound they had been searching for.

Davide has been fronting bands since 2009, most notably the gothic metal outfit Darkest Clouds, who spent a decade on the local circuit and released their album Stronger Than The Distance in 2017. His voice — and the weight behind it — comes from years of putting vocals and bass work directly into live rooms.

Alessandro's path began in 2016 with Hounds, a Turin heavy metal band rooted in the traditions of Savatage, Judas Priest, and Rainbow. His arrival shifted the group from a covers act into a fully fledged songwriting unit, leading to their debut EP in 2017 and the full‑length Warrior Of Sun in 2020 on Punishment 18 Records. A guitarist with a solid recording history and international label experience, he brings a sharpened edge to QZ's sound.

Together, the pair channel the stark architecture of 80s gothic rock and the modern Nordic gothic tradition. Their music is atmospheric and deliberate, built on synth‑driven textures and restrained, driving guitars, with Davide's commanding vocals at the centre.

QZ began releasing music independently in late 2024, steadily unveiling a series of singles: "Follow You" in September, "Waste" in November, "Signs" in January 2025, "Turning Point (feat. Olivia Zuberi)" in April, and a Vexcore remix of "Signs" in July. Before any of these tracks reached a studio, the duo were already performing stripped‑back dark acoustic sets, testing how the songs lived in front of an audience.

The band's first full‑band performances outside Italy will take place in Poland in May 2026: 9 May – Oliwa Pub, Kraków (with Absentem and Vermilion Age) and 10 May – Korba/Faust, Katowice (with Absentem and Füzér Vér). Further live dates are expected to follow. Link