Elvenking

Elvenking is an Italian folk metal and power metal group from Sacile, Italy. Active since 1997, the band forms around a blend of heavy metal and folklore, and its line-up changes over time while keeping a clear focus on folk and power metal.

Formation and early line-up

The band begins in late October 1997 with guitarists Aydan and Jarpen, who share an interest in heavy metal and folklore. They are soon joined by Sargon on bass. Damnagoras joins as lead vocalist in March 1998, and Zender follows on drums in September of that year. The group later builds its early reputation through live work and a promotional demo, To Oak Woods Bestowed, recorded in 2000. On that recording, Damnagoras sings and also plays bass after Sargon leaves the band.

Recording career

The demo attracts the interest of German label AFM Records. Gorlan, who had been a session musician and a friend of Aydan and Jarpen, then becomes the permanent bassist. Elvenking records its debut album, Heathenreel, at New Sin Audio Design with Luigi Stefanini, with mixing at Fredman Studios by Fredrik Nordström. The artwork is by Travis Smith and the logo is designed by J. P. Fournier. The album appears in 2001.

The band tours across Europe and plays festivals with acts including Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, Edguy and Virgin Steele. Damnagoras temporarily leaves in August 2002 for health reasons, and the group brings in Kleid as vocalist. Elyghen then joins as violinist and keyboard player. This line-up records Wyrd at Gernhart Studios with Martin Buchwalter, with mixing and mastering at House of Music Studios by Achim Köhler; it is released in 2004. Damnagoras returns later that year.

Jarpen leaves the band in February 2005. Elvenking then releases The Winter Wake in 2006, followed by The Scythe in 2007. In 2010, production work on the next album involves Dennis Ward and Mat Sinner, and the resulting record, Red Silent Tides, is released later that year. The band continues touring in Europe, including support dates with Primal Fear.

Later albums and concept work

Era is released in 2012 as the band’s seventh studio album. The Pagan Manifesto follows in 2014 and marks a return to the band’s earlier folk and power metal sound. The single Elvenlegions precedes the album, and the track King of the Elves includes material that refers back to White Willow from Heathenreel.

In 2017, Elvenking releases Secrets of the Magick Grimoire after the lyric video for Draugen's Maelstrom. Around this period, drummer Symohn is replaced by Lancs. From 2019, the band begins a conceptual trilogy, Reader of the Runes, starting with Reader of the Runes – Divination, followed by Reader of the Runes – Rapture in 2023 and Reader of the Runes – Luna in 2025.

Members

Named members associated with the band include Aydan, Francesco Anselmi, Sargon, Jarpen, Damnagoras, Diego Lucchese, Zender, Gorlan, Massimo Bottiglieri, Elyghen, Raffaello Indri, Lethien, Simone Morettin, Alessandro Jacobi and Marco Lanciotti.

Releases

The band releases one demo and twelve full-length studio albums, including Heathenreel, Wyrd, The Winter Wake, The Scythe, Two Tragedy Poets (...And a Caravan of Weird Figures), Red Silent Tides, Era, The Pagan Manifesto, Secrets of the Magick Grimoire, and the three-part Reader of the Runes series.