Janvs, a progressive black metal band from Genoa, Italy, was founded in 2004 by Matteo Barelli on vocals and guitar, Claudio Fogliato on bass, and Francesco La Rosa on drums. The group's name is derived from the ancient Roman god Janus, with the band notably using Latin in their naming conventions, replacing the letter "U" with "V." Their debut album, Nigredo, was released in 2004, limited to 88 copies. In 2007, Janvs released their second album, Fvlgvres. The band contributed the track "Pietas I" to the B.M.I.A Compilation. In 2008, La Rosa left the group, and Massimo Altomare joined as the new drummer.