Elvenking (band)
Encyclopedia
Elvenking is a folk
/power metal
band from Italy
. As of 2010, the band has released one demo, one single, and six full-length studio albums.
ist friends, Aydan and Jarpen, both sharing a passion for metal music and folklore
. Although they were soon joined by Sargon as bassist, the young band faced many issues with its line-up that prevented them from progressing. In March 1998, Damnagoras joined the band as a lead singer, and was followed by the arrival of the drummer Zender in September. It was only then that the band found a definite stability.
The primary goal of Elvenking is to create a fusion of power metal and folk music. After gaining experience through many shows, the band decided to record a promotional album, To Oak Woods Bestowed, in 2000. Damnagoras performed both lead vocals and bass for the recording and subsequent concerts as Sargon previously left the band. The demo was successful enough to allow Elvenking to sign a contract with German label AFM Records
.
Soon after, Gorlan, a friend of Aydan and Jarpen, fully joined as a bassist; before he appeared as a session player.
The first full-length album Heathenreel
was recorded at New Sin Audio Design by Luigi Stefanini and mixed at Fredman Studios by Fredrik Nordstrom. The cover artwork was created by Travis Smith and the band logo was designed by J.P. Fournier, who also designed covers for Avantasia
and Immortal
. The album was released on July 23, 2001 and received praise from metal critics around the world. Elvenking then toured around Europe at festivals with better known bands like Blind Guardian
, Gamma Ray
, Edguy
and Virgin Steele
.
In August 2002 singer Damnagoras took leave from the band due to health concerns. Elvenking then recruited a new vocalist, Kleid, who revitalized the spirit of folk music within the band. Elyghen, a violinist and keyboard player, joined soon after. The shift in the line-up led to their second album, Wyrd
, recorded at Gernhart studios in Siegburg
with Martin Buchwalter, and mixed & mastered at House of music studios with Achim Kolher and released on April 19, 2004.
In late 2004 Damnagoras returned, taking the place of Kleid, and Elvenking began working on their third album, The Winter Wake
.
On February 4, 2005, founding guitarist Jarpen left Elvenking. Aydan commented:
The Winter Wake was released and premiered live on March 11, 2006 in Pordenone
, Italy
.
On November 3, 2006, a new album was announced to be in the works according to the official website. It was released on September 14, 2007. The album is named The Scythe
and it's a conceptual album about death.
On April 14, 2008, the band announced that they were beginning work on the next album and that it would be a "totally acoustic album". In a later post the band explained that while they viewed this new album as a chance to explore their folk
influences it would also be a chance for them to experiment in new areas as well. It was also added that they already had some material written for a "heavy" album however this album would wait until after the acoustic album was released.
On January 14, 2009 they announced a new guitarist on the website, Raffaello "Rafahel" Indri. He has been playing gigs with the band for the past year, and is now an official member of the band.
On September 29, 2009 they announced Lethien to be their new live violin player and to take Elyghen's place in the rehearsal room until his return to Italy.
On February 9, 2010 it was announced that Dennis Ward will produce Elvenking's new album, with Mat Sinner (Sinner, Primal Fear) also taking the role of executive producer. The recordings started on March 20. The album, called Red Silent Tides, was released on September 17 in Europe, and November 9 in North America.
.
Folk metal
Folk metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. As the name suggests, the genre is a fusion of heavy metal with traditional folk music...
/power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. As of 2010, the band has released one demo, one single, and six full-length studio albums.
Biography
Elvenking was formed in October 1997 by two guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist friends, Aydan and Jarpen, both sharing a passion for metal music and folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
. Although they were soon joined by Sargon as bassist, the young band faced many issues with its line-up that prevented them from progressing. In March 1998, Damnagoras joined the band as a lead singer, and was followed by the arrival of the drummer Zender in September. It was only then that the band found a definite stability.
The primary goal of Elvenking is to create a fusion of power metal and folk music. After gaining experience through many shows, the band decided to record a promotional album, To Oak Woods Bestowed, in 2000. Damnagoras performed both lead vocals and bass for the recording and subsequent concerts as Sargon previously left the band. The demo was successful enough to allow Elvenking to sign a contract with German label AFM Records
AFM Records
AFM-Records GmbH is a music label based in Schwalmstadt, Germany. They focus on the heavy metal musical genre, signing bands such as U.D.O., Doro, Kotipelto, Masterplan, Nostradameus, and Annihilator....
.
Soon after, Gorlan, a friend of Aydan and Jarpen, fully joined as a bassist; before he appeared as a session player.
The first full-length album Heathenreel
Heathenreel
Heathenreel is the debut album of Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking.-Track listing:# "To Oak Woods Bestowed" – 0:46# "Pagan Purity" – 4:35# "The Dweller of Rhymes" – 4:48# "The Regality Dance" – 5:46# "White Willow" – 5:59# "Skywards" – 5:32...
was recorded at New Sin Audio Design by Luigi Stefanini and mixed at Fredman Studios by Fredrik Nordstrom. The cover artwork was created by Travis Smith and the band logo was designed by J.P. Fournier, who also designed covers for Avantasia
Avantasia
Avantasia is a heavy metal project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist and frontman of the band Edguy. The project's title is a portmanteau of the words "avalon" and "fantasia" and describes "a world beyond human imagination"...
and Immortal
Immortal (band)
Immortal is a black metal band from Bergen, Norway, founded in 1990 by current frontman/guitarist Abbath Doom Occulta and former guitarist Demonaz Doom Occulta...
. The album was released on July 23, 2001 and received praise from metal critics around the world. Elvenking then toured around Europe at festivals with better known bands like Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres...
, Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray (band)
Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...
, Edguy
Edguy
-Demos, AFM years :Edguy was founded in 1992 by 14-year-old students Tobias Sammet, Jens Ludwig, Dominik Storch and Dirk Sauer. The name "Edguy" was an affectionate epithet for Mr. Edgar Siedschlag, their math teacher at the time. In 1994, the band released two demos, Evil Minded and Children of...
and Virgin Steele
Virgin Steele
Virgin Steele is a heavy metal band from New York, originally formed in 1981.The band released a few career highlights albums...
.
In August 2002 singer Damnagoras took leave from the band due to health concerns. Elvenking then recruited a new vocalist, Kleid, who revitalized the spirit of folk music within the band. Elyghen, a violinist and keyboard player, joined soon after. The shift in the line-up led to their second album, Wyrd
Wyrd (album)
Wyrd is the second full-length album by Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking.-Track listing:#"The Losers' Ball" – 1:49#"Pathfinders" – 5:22#"Jigsaw Puzzle" – 4:17#"The Silk Dilemma" – 4:19#"Disappearing Sands" – 4:41#"Moonchariot" – 6:49...
, recorded at Gernhart studios in Siegburg
Siegburg
--122.148.78.228 05:06, 14 November 2011 Siegburg is a city in the district of Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany...
with Martin Buchwalter, and mixed & mastered at House of music studios with Achim Kolher and released on April 19, 2004.
In late 2004 Damnagoras returned, taking the place of Kleid, and Elvenking began working on their third album, The Winter Wake
The Winter Wake (album)
The Winter Wake is the third studio album by Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking.-Track listing:All songs written by Aydan, except where noted.# "Trows Kind" – 5:57# "Swallowtail" – 4:26# "The Winter Wake" – 4:19...
.
On February 4, 2005, founding guitarist Jarpen left Elvenking. Aydan commented:
"Jarpen didn't feel comfortable playing Elvenking's music anymore having lost passion in this kind of stuff. It was a long time he was talking with us about and when Damna was back in, knowing the direction we wanted to go, he told us his willing to leave. We have tried to convince him to give it a try but it didn't worked out.
It's a really sad thing because Jarpen was one of the founding members and we have created all this from the beginning together, but on the other hand being friends before musicians we know that this is what Jarpen wanted and we totally respect his decision.
We will miss you, friend!"
The Winter Wake was released and premiered live on March 11, 2006 in Pordenone
Pordenone
Pordenone is a comune of Pordenone province of northeast Italy in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.The name comes from the Latin "Portus Naonis" meaning the port on the river Noncello - History :...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
On November 3, 2006, a new album was announced to be in the works according to the official website. It was released on September 14, 2007. The album is named The Scythe
The Scythe (album)
The Scythe is the fourth studio album by Italian folk metal band Elvenking. The Scythe was released on September 14, 2007 through AFM Records in all European countries, and November 7 in the USA by Candlelight Records....
and it's a conceptual album about death.
On April 14, 2008, the band announced that they were beginning work on the next album and that it would be a "totally acoustic album". In a later post the band explained that while they viewed this new album as a chance to explore their folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
influences it would also be a chance for them to experiment in new areas as well. It was also added that they already had some material written for a "heavy" album however this album would wait until after the acoustic album was released.
On January 14, 2009 they announced a new guitarist on the website, Raffaello "Rafahel" Indri. He has been playing gigs with the band for the past year, and is now an official member of the band.
On September 29, 2009 they announced Lethien to be their new live violin player and to take Elyghen's place in the rehearsal room until his return to Italy.
On February 9, 2010 it was announced that Dennis Ward will produce Elvenking's new album, with Mat Sinner (Sinner, Primal Fear) also taking the role of executive producer. The recordings started on March 20. The album, called Red Silent Tides, was released on September 17 in Europe, and November 9 in North America.
Influences
Elvenking has declared itself to be a band highly influenced by folk music and dances from all over the world, but especially from all the metal scene and from "any other cool stuff may it be pop, punk or whatever". Amongst the most influential bands on Elvenking's style is SkycladSkyclad (band)
Skyclad are a British heavy metal band with heavy folk influences in their music. They are considered one of the pioneers of folk metal. The etymology behind the term "skyclad" comes from a pagan/wiccan term for ritual nudity, in which rituals are performed with the participants metaphorically clad...
.
Current members
- Damnagoras – vocals (formerly also bass)
- Aydan – guitars, backing vocals
- Pauline Tacey - female vocal 2000–present
- Laura de Luca - female vocal 2001–present
- Rafahel - guitars
- Gorlan – bass
- Elyghen – violin, keyboards
- Symohn – drums
- Lethien – violin
Former members
- Sargon – bass 1997-1999
- Jarpen – guitars, vocals 1997-2005
- Kleid – vocals 2002-2004
- Zender - drums 1998-2011
Studio albums
- HeathenreelHeathenreelHeathenreel is the debut album of Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking.-Track listing:# "To Oak Woods Bestowed" – 0:46# "Pagan Purity" – 4:35# "The Dweller of Rhymes" – 4:48# "The Regality Dance" – 5:46# "White Willow" – 5:59# "Skywards" – 5:32...
(2001) - WyrdWyrd (album)Wyrd is the second full-length album by Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking.-Track listing:#"The Losers' Ball" – 1:49#"Pathfinders" – 5:22#"Jigsaw Puzzle" – 4:17#"The Silk Dilemma" – 4:19#"Disappearing Sands" – 4:41#"Moonchariot" – 6:49...
(2004) - The Winter WakeThe Winter Wake (album)The Winter Wake is the third studio album by Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking.-Track listing:All songs written by Aydan, except where noted.# "Trows Kind" – 5:57# "Swallowtail" – 4:26# "The Winter Wake" – 4:19...
(2006) - The ScytheThe Scythe (album)The Scythe is the fourth studio album by Italian folk metal band Elvenking. The Scythe was released on September 14, 2007 through AFM Records in all European countries, and November 7 in the USA by Candlelight Records....
(2007) - Two Tragedy Poets (...and a Caravan of Weird Figures)Two Tragedy Poets (...and a Caravan of Weird Figures)Two Tragedy Poets is the fifth studio album by Italian folk metal band Elvenking. It was released through AFM Records on November 14, 2008....
(2008) - Red Silent TidesRed Silent TidesRed Silent Tides is the sixth album by Italian power/folk metal band Elvenking. It was released on September 17, 2010 through AFM Records as a standard and Deluxe Editions. The Deluxe Edition of Red Silent Tides included a second disc which contained their first demo album To Oak Woods Bestowed as...
(2010)