Since their inception in 1997, Elvenking have never fit squarely into one genre or category in the world of metal. On a surface level, the casual listener might blindly generalize them into power metal genre based on Davide “Damna” Moras’ soaring vocals and Federico “Aydan” Baston’s fast-paced riffing and lead guitar play. But when you span the band’s entire catalog, the breadth of their influences are revealed, resulting in a brand of metal that is as much influenced by folk metal legends like Skyclad as it is by melodic death metal pioneers In Flames and Soilwork.
Through combining classic folk elements like the violin with spots of harsh vocals and even blast beats at time that could seem more at home in classic black metal, Elvenking have perfected their own brand of metal for nearly thirty years. They prefer to refer to it as pagan metal.
The driving force behind this signature sound are Aydan and Damna, the longest tenured members of the band. After experimenting with differing styles for much of their early career due to a lack of a scene in their native Italy that embraced them, the two decided to sit down and decide what they wanted Elvenking’s signature sound to be. The result of this brainstorming session was 2014’s The Pagan Manifesto, which many consider the band’s watershed moment alongside their 2001 debut Heathenreel.
Now, a little more than a decade after its release, the group is on the precipice of completing one of the more ambitious projects in recent metal history. The band’s Reader of the Runes album trilogy is about to be completed on April 11th when they release the third installment titled Luna. The intricate storyline from the previous two releases, 2019’s Divinations and 2023’s Rapture, will finally conclude, revealing the fate of the eight main characters introduced in the first installment of the concept.
Ahead of the release of Luna, I was able to speak with Damna about a number of topics, including:
- the inspiration for the Reader of the Runes concept trilogy, the band’s experience writing it, and how the story will conclude (no spoilers).
- a brief discussion of classic concept albums, the lost art of the metal epic, and some classic long form tracks from metal history.
- how fans have greeted the new singles from Luna, Elvenking’s performances at Paganfest, and appreciation for Waylander’s Reawakening Pride Once Lost.
- working with Dan Swanö (Bloodbath, Edge of Sanity) on Divinations, recruiting Jon Oliva (Savatage) to guest on Era, and the singers who influenced his style most.
- Elvenking’s cover of Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth,” the story behind their stage outfits and makeup, and future plans for the band.
Alongside being an incredibly talented frontman, Damna is also a student of metal history with a deep affection for classic black and death metal as well as the standard classics. Discussing Elvenking's rich history alongside so many legendary albums and artists made for a very enjoyable conversation that you can check out HERE:
The third and final installment of the Reader of the Runes trilogy, Luna, will be released on April 11th through Reaper Entertainment. You can find pre-order information on Elvenking's website, designed by Damna, below:
Elvenking have scattered live dates and festival appearances throughout Europe scheduled currently, but don't be surprised to see a full-scale tour announced closer to Luna's release date. Damna also told me the band plans to tour North America again in the near future. Keep an eye on their website and socials for further information.
