ANCIENT BARDS
Artifex
Limb Music

It’s been six years since ANCIENT BARDS‘ fourth studio album, but oh how the wait was worth it. Album number five, “Artifex”, is on a whole other level, every detail has been so meticulously crafted, each note sung is filled with so much emotion and the songs themselves are filled to bursting with the sheer amount of creative energy poured into them. This is ANCIENT BARDS at their very best, this is their Magnum Opus.

Formed in Italy in 2006, ANCIENT BARDS have always had something a little different about them compared to many of their European power metal peers. What that something exactly is, can’t really be quantified, it’s more a feeling you get when you see them perform live, read their lyrics or just hear their music. Suddenly, you just understand it and the world becomes just that little bit brighter for you.

ANCIENT BARDS have spent their 4 previous albums playing out events in their Black Crystal Sword Saga, a fantasy epic written by the band that revolves around the Magical Sword and how it impacts various characters in the story. They use the power of their music, some narration and very special guests throughout their albums to help convey the story, and this definitely helps the listener create strong emotional connections to certain characters as they battle between right and wrong, good and evil and all of the pitfalls that life throws their way.

The new album flows just like a book with an intro, “Luminance And Abyss” setting the scene and getting us ready for what is to come in a similar fashion to a prologue… just wait until you hear what happens in the epilogue… no spoilers though, let’s jump in to the first chapter so to speak.

“My Prima Nox” explodes out the gate with its epic symphonic bombast, choirs at full tilt and the whole band at full speed. It is pure magic and creates the grand and dramatic soundscape that has become one of ANCIENT BARDS‘ trademarks over the years. The song gallops along with superb musicianship on show all around supported by an amazing choir of 42 wonderful voices. It’s a very strong start to the album and a definite standout track.

The bass work on any ANCIENT BARDS album is always something truly special and we are again treated to an absolute master class by Martino Garattoni, it’s no wonder he was asked to join Ne Obliviscaris as his talents are phenomenal.

Guest vocals by Francesco Cavalieri (Wind Rose) greet us on “The Vessel” as we are introduced to how the Crystal Sword came to be created. The song is a more mid-tempo paced offering after the frantic opening so we get to hear all of the delicate touches, flourishes and creative sparks going off all over the place as the song develops.

Mark Jansen (Epica) lends his impressive growls to “The Empire Of Black Death” which is fittingly one of the heaviest tracks on the album. A sinister sounding riff opens up the track, with Sara singing in a slightly lower register which in turn gives the song a menacing sound which builds with a swirling orchestration and then breaks with a guitar solo sprinkling a bit of light into the song.

The vocal talents of Sara Squadrani have always been one of the strongest parts of any ANCIENT BARDS album, and with “Unending” we are shown exactly why that is. It is a beautiful ballad that starts soft and slow but then, just like a flower in spring, it opens up a bit after the chorus and then again after the next chorus until it is at full bloom with a bass line to die for, a fantastically melodic guitar solo and it’s then that Sara unleashes her full force. I have always thought that she could sing any genre, any song and absolutely nail it and this proves it beyond any shadow of a doubt, truly phenomenal stuff.

“Ministers Of Light” sees ANCIENT BARDS trying something different and it wouldn’t appear out of sorts on the soundtrack to some epic fantasy adventure movie. It’s a rousing call as we reach the halfway point in the story and the album as “Proximity” acts as the interlude and we get ready for the 2nd half of the story and everything to come.

The first single released, “Soulbound Symphony”, is up next and boom, it’s another epic in the ANCIENT BARDS catalogue. A catchy choir and string piece builds to a crescendo where the drums burst into life and we are accelerated forward with an urgency as the stakes feel raised and there’s something on the line. The relentless and repetitive drum beat really drives us on with swirling choirs, guitars, trumpets and more fantastic bass riffing.

Things turn a bit darker and heavier with “My Blood And Blade”, but wow!, is it catchy. It is the heaviest track on the album but still so full of melody. It’s quick and punchy, being the shortest song on the album too, not including the intro, outro or interlude, so it makes its mark quickly and effectively.

“Under The Shadow” has an interesting opening which is almost a bit haunting but it soon settles into a gloriously catchy groove with Sara adding a bit of bite to her vocal delivery here that just works so well.

As we approach the end, “Artifex” acts as the stories epilogue with it’s narration taking us through the final acts of the story. Fans of the band and their epic tale will be very excited to hear who makes a return… still no spoilers, go and grab a copy, crank the volume up to 11 and enjoy the adventure!

This cinematic journey transcends the boundaries of music and is one incredible piece of art. The whole band has spent an amazing amount of creative energy bringing it all to life and they should be so immensely proud of what they have created.

Russell Mulock-Bentley