Italian progressive metal band Benthos celebrate the fifth anniversary of their debut album, II, with a new acoustic version of its closing track ‘Dissolving Flowers’, via InsideOut Music.
Wanting to share a more intimate side of the song, the band explained: “This song was born from a classical guitar, so its acoustic soul has always been there, quietly guiding it. Revisiting it, we immersed ourselves in a space still new to us as a band: recording it live in a studio for the first time, letting it breathe in a new way, and adding a layer of viola da gamba, an instrument we’d never used before, giving the track a different kind of warmth and emotion. It felt like rediscovering an old memory, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.”
Performed and recorded live in a studio in their native northern Italy, it showcases the range and classical training of the young musicians. Built on classical and acoustic guitars, fretless bass and delicate percussion, the track features Gabriele Landillo on vocals while also playing the viola da gamba, an ancient bowed instrument he studied and mastered at Milan’s Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi.
The arrangement bridges historical technique with the band’s contemporary sound, revealing a surprising and intimate side of Benthos, completed by Gabriele Papagni and Enrico Tripodi (guitars), Alberto Fiorani (bass) and Alessandro Tagliani (drums).
Benthos began in Milan, playing experimental progressive metal that blends modern progressive rock, mathcore and psychedelia. Debut album II (Eclipse Records, 2021) introduced their adventurous, chaotic catharsis, and with From Nothing (InsideOut Music, 2025) they grew more expansive and self-assured, earning a spot in Loudwire’s Top 11 Prog Metal Albums of 2025.
‘Dissolving Flowers (Acoustic Version)’ can be streamed here, with the video available to watch below.
The band have also announced their first UK live dates:
“We’re thrilled to announce our first UK shows in London and Nottingham, alongside RADAR Festival in Manchester and ArcTanGent in Bristol. This will be our UK debut, and you really can’t imagine how excited we are. British music has always been a major influence on us; we grew up on rock ‘n’ roll, and it’s incredible to finally play where so many of our idols made, and are making, their mark.”
BENTHOS UK LIVE DATES
Fri 31 July, London, The Grace
Sat 1 August, Nottingham, The Carousel
Sun 2 August, Manchester, RADAR Festival
Thu 20 August, Bristol, ArcTanGent Festival
Tickets are available via ffm.live/benthos.
