in memory of Dark Quarterer/Etrusgrave guitarist Fulberto Serena (1950–2026)

Fulberto Serena (Dark Quarterer, Etrusgrave) | January 1950 – February 10, 2026

Metal Archives reports that on February 10th, 2026, the Italian guitarist Fulberto Serena passed away. While I am certainly not an expert on his entire musical career, I am a fan of the band he is best known for: Dark Quarterer, a cult act synonymous with what many call epic-progressive heavy metal. Fulberto was the founding guitarist and main songwriter for the group during the 1980s.

It looks like Fulberto began jamming with bassist and vocalist Gianni Nepi way back in 1969. By 1974, they formed the trio Omega R (later Omega Erre) in Piombino, Tuscany. For several years, they focused on improving their craft, playing covers of 1970s progressive and hard rock legends like Genesis, Black Sabbath, and King Crimson. It was during this period that they found their approach: complex and ambitious arrangements combined with a unique blend of epic and progressive elements.

In 1980, the band changed its name to Dark Quarterer, with Fulberto serving as the driving creative force. This era produced their nine-song demo in 1985, their self-titled debut in 1987, and the 1988 album The Etruscan Prophecy. Speaking for myself, I highly recommend these two 1980s albums for fans of the more obscure, progressive, and epic heavy metal style. While the music may sound a bit obtuse at first, the "epic-progressive" tag makes more sense with every listen. Don't expect radio-friendly compositions. Expect something a bit weird, an acquired taste, by a band that was doing what they wanted to do, rather than writing songs with the express purpose of becoming rock stars.

Fulberto left Dark Quarterer in 1990 but returned to the scene in the mid-2000s with a new project called Etrusgrave. This band maintained that same musical perspective of obscure-sounding epic-progressive metal, releasing Masters of Fate (2008), Tophet (2010), and Aita's Sentence (2016). Although I am less familiar with Etrusgrave’s catalog than I am with Dark Quarterer, the quality of the compositions is clearly in the same spirit.

Fulberto Serena passed away on February 10, 2026, at the age of 76. His death was announced by both Dark Quarterer and Etrusgrave.

Dark Quarterer - The Etruscan Prophecy

Etrusgrave - Masters of Fate