Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 1980, the group is known for lyrics based on fantasy and mythology, as well as numerous songs celebrating the genre and its core audience. The band is also known for a loud and emphatic sound. In an interview for MTV in February 2007, bassist Joey DeMaio lamented that "these days, there's a real lack of big, epic metal that is drenched with crushing guitars and choirs and orchestras... so it's nice to be one of the few bands that's actually doing that". In 1984, the band was included in the Guinness Book of World Records for delivering the loudest performance, a record which they have since broken on two occasions. They also hold the world record for the longest heavy metal concert after playing for five hours and 1 minute in Bulgaria in 2008. They also have been known for their slogan "Death to false metal".
Folk metal is a fusion genre of heavy metal music and traditional folk music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. It is characterised by the widespread use of folk instruments and, to a lesser extent, traditional singing styles. It also sometimes features soft instrumentation influenced by folk rock.
Therion is a Swedish symphonic metal band founded by Christofer Johnsson in 1987. Its name was inspired by the Celtic Frost album To Mega Therion. "To Mega Therion" is Greek for "The Great Beast" and was a title used by occultist Aleister Crowley. Originally a death metal band, Therion adjusted its musical style by adding orchestral elements, including choirs, classical musicians, and even a full orchestra at their concert performances. As a result, they are considered pioneers of the symphonic metal genre.
The Rapture was an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1998. During their reunion, the band consisted of Luke Jenner, Vito Roccoforte, and Gabriel Andruzzi. The classic lineup (1999–2009) added Mattie Safer playing bass and sharing lead vocal duties with Jenner. Safer and Jenner's harmonized choruses became part of the signature sound of the band, featuring on several of the band’s more well known songs.
Ensiferum is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. The members of the band label themselves as "melodic folk metal".
The Winter Wake is the third studio album by Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking. It features the return of original vocalist, Damnagoras, and the departure of guitarist, Jarpen. The lyrical content of the album centers around fantasy, folklore, fairy tales, and feeling alone and being an outsider or an outcast as well as hints at the music industry with songs such as the Skyclad cover, "Penny Dreadful".
All That Remains is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1998. They have released nine studio albums, a live CD and DVD, and have sold over a million records worldwide.
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 US by Candlelight Records.
Black Tide was an American heavy metal band from Kendall, Florida. Formed in 2004, the band last consisted of Gabriel Garcia, Austin Diaz and Cody Paige (drums). They released their debut album, Light from Above, in 2008 through Interscope Records when Garcia was 15 years old. Their second album, Post Mortem, was released in 2011. Black Tide's EP Bite the Bullet was released in 2013 by InnerCat Music Group, a Miami-based boutique label. In 2015, the band released their last album Chasing Shadows. In July 2016, Garcia announced that the band is over and he is concentrating on his solo project.
Two Tragedy Poets is the fifth studio album by Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking. It was released through AFM Records on November 14, 2008. The album is mostly acoustic; it includes acoustic versions of two older tracks, "The Winter Wake" and "The Wanderer", both from The Winter Wake. The Japanese edition also includes a remake of "Skywards", originally released on the album Heathenreel. Although Elvenking's website says otherwise, instead of "The Wanderer " being a digipack bonus track, it's "My Little Moon".
Finsterforst is a German folk metal band from Schwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg, whose lyrical themes deal with nature, German myths, and fantasy worlds. Formed in 2004, the group has released five studio albums, one extended play and one compilation album.
Red Silent Tides is the sixth album by Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking. It was released on September 17, 2010, through AFM Records in both 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 a bonus disc. This album would also feature Raffaello "Rafahel" Indri on guitars alongside Aydan. Also this album would not feature Elyghen on Violins due to his trip out of Italy and was replaced by session player Fabio "Lethien" Polo for the remainder until Elyghen's return.
Trick or Treat is an Italian power metal band formed in 2002 in Modena. The group's line-up has been mostly the same since its inception, except for the drummer position, which underwent changes in 2006 and 2011, and in 2014 guitarist and founding member Luca Cabri left the band and was replaced by Luca Venturelli.
Unleash the Archers is a Canadian power metal band from British Columbia. The band plays a fusion of power metal, melodic death metal, and traditional heavy metal.
Era is the seventh studio album released by the Italian folk/power metal band, Elvenking. The album returns more to the band's traditional sound of folk metal and power metal incorporating more folk elements into the songs that were more so lacking from previous albums such as The Scythe and Red Silent Tides. Guest appearances on vocals by Jon Oliva (Savatage),, and Netta Dahlberg as well as a guitar solo performed by Teemu Mantysaari of (Wintersun) can be heard on the album. Prior to the album's release, Damna and Aydan did a sit down via YouTube going through the album track-by-track describing to fans where each song is coming from and what went into writing and recording the songs.
The Pagan Manifesto is the eighth studio album released by the Italian folk/power metal band, Elvenking. The album is a return to the band's pagan roots and sees a return to their original idea, concept and sound both lyrically and musically.
Brothers of Metal are a Swedish power metal band from Falun, formed in 2012. The band's visual style and lyrics are inspired by Vikings and Norse mythology, and are often purposefully over-the-top, which earns them both criticism and praise.
The Divination of Antiquity is the fourth studio album by the English black metal band Winterfylleth, released on 6 October 2014 through Candlelight Records.
Federico "Aydan" Baston is an Italian guitarist who is currently the lead guitarist, songwriter and founder of the Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking
Wyrd is the second studio album released by the Italian folk/power metal band, Elvenking. The album is notable as it is the last to feature founding guitarst, Jarpen. It is also the only Elvenking album to feature Kleid as vocalist in place of Damnagoras. The album is considered to have a more focused approach with less longer songs as opposed to its predecessor, Heathenreel.
