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"Secrets of the Magick Grimoire" is the ninth studio album by Italian folk/power metal band, Elvenking, released on November 10, 2017 through AFM Records. This is the band's first album with new drummer Marco "Lancs" Lanciotti.
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The Italians haven’t strayed too far from the sound of their debut over the years, but there was a clear loss of quality along the way, until they completely obliterated the criticism with the wholesome ‘Pagan Manifesto’ three years ago. Following the same formula – and seeming to have achieved a perfect harmony between the classic and the new – the forest-dwellers go strong again with ‘Secrets of the Magick Grimoire’, their 9th album.
Like many of the power/folk acts out there, Elvenking have always used the frivolous atmosphere of the genre to write unpretentious and carefree songs, which can be found here as well. Starting with a bang in “Invoking the Woodland Spirit”, they set the pace right from the first verse of the track, which switches from a folk anthem to fast-paced power hymn during its course. The first half of the album, for that matter, abuses of that formula really well, with songs like the melodic and catchy “Draugen’s Maelstrom” and the fanfare-like “The Horned Ghost and the Sorcerer” – this last one slower in the verses and bridge but epic in the chorus – holding up to the high quality of the effort.
It seems to me that Elvenking have found their path across the dark forests of creativity once again and consolidated the new musical approach started with ‘The Pagan Manifesto’. Embracing the band’s true essence from the heydays and adding some new layers and arrangements to the arsenal, Damna, Aydan and company have once again managed to make melodic power metal and traditional folk music to coexist. ‘Secrets of the Magick Grimoire’ is not as impactful as its predecessor, but it’s definitely an album worth checking out. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Bruno Medeiros for metalwani.com.
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