So now that I’ve listened to many prog-rock, metal albums on MOG, several albums usually appear on the list of albums “just for me”. So there right next to folk and blues albums are these prog rock albums. Well yesterday, I listened to one of the albums ERA by Elvenking and I really liked it! I’ve written before that it amazes me that prog-rock/metal music is such a world-wide music phenomena and Elvenking reflects that geographical diversity. The band hails from Sacile, which is located in the northeast corner of Italy. From their biography at Allmusic:
Following in the pixie boots of England’s Skyclad, Finland’s Finntroll, and several other such strange creatures, Italy’s Elvenking unite the disparate worlds of heavy metal and acoustic folk music underneath lyrics spinning mystical yarns steeped in both legend and imagination. Founded in 1997 by guitarists Aydan and Jarpen, the group soon added vocalists Damnagoras and Kleid, keyboardist/violinist Elyghen, bassist Gorlan, and drummer Zender (how about those stage names?) for the recording of 2001’s Heathenreel and 2004’s Wyrd — both of them released by German label AFM.
Era is the band’s seventh album was recorded in PUMP STUDIOS in Helsinki, Finland with producer NINO LAURENNE (Amorphis, Lordi, Hevisaurus, etc.) and according to their website it features :
– Guest appearance by JON OLIVA (Savatage, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Jon Oliva’s Pain) and other great singers as lead guests and backing vocals such as Alessandro Conti, Netta Dahlberg, Marco Sandron and others.
– A guitar solo from Teemu Mantysaari (WINTERSUN)
– Pipes, flutes and other typical folk instruments played by Maurizio, the amazing musician from Italian band FOLKSTONE.
– A great production and killing sound also thanks to the addition of the NEW amazing DRUMMER and BASS PLAYER.
– A bunch of killing songs going from high speed folk metal to melodic and romantic ballads, from crushing metal melancholic mid tempos to acoustic folk tunes.
and on top of all that it’s a great hard-driving album that keeps my feet moving – I can’t wait to take the album out on the road with me for a run!! I also gave a quick listen to England’s Skyclad, which I also enjoyed. So check out both bands!!
So here’s the official video for “The Loser” which opens the album ERA
