The grandiosity of Ancient Bards is just one of the band’s many selling points. But it and the multifaceted voice of Sara Squadrani are the more obvious ones. That fact remains unchanged here, on their fifth – and perhaps most diverse – release, Artifex.
Though no less grandiose than expected, Artifex represents a growing confidence in songwriting. As adept as Ancient Bards have been in developing well-placed ballads that still advance their The Black Crystal Sword Saga, there are songs here (“Unending;” “Ministers of Light;” “Proximity;” “Sea of Solitude”) that feel less restricted by, if not expectation, precedent. And the vehicle with which they accomplish that also seems notably cinematic, even for a band that has never shied from that approach.
The distance between, say, Rhapsody of Fire, and Ancient Bards, has never been great. But, since at least 2019’s Origine – The Black Crystal Sword Saga Part 2, it has grown. And that distance feels even greater here, where the trilogy of “Unending,” “Ministers of Light,” and “Proximity” push Squadrani’s voice to the forefront like “Light” on Origine … except over the course of almost 15 minutes as opposed to the 4:43 of “Light.” It’s the kind of bold move you’d hope for from a band that has in some sense embraced excess. Yet it’s not one we often see.
Of course, a few slower, more contemplative and cinematic songs does not amount to a genre shift. Ancient Bards still revels in making speedy, triumphant, and hooky symphonic power metal with teeth. Wind Rose’s lead vocalist Francesco Cavalieri leads the charge, for instance, on “The Vessel.” The first song (“My Prima Nox”) after the intro is another relatively speedy and heavy number. And the vocal theatrics of Squadrani on “Soulbound Symphony” shows her own personal growth since the debut, The Alliance of the Kings (The Black Crystal Sword Pt. 1), but it also embraces the riff-heavy aspect of that album as well.
If you were there for Alliance and your fandom never wavered, it is highly unlikely you’ll be anything but extremely grateful for this somewhat riskier and more rewarding take on the Ancient Bards sound. That about a quarter of the album slows the tempo down in a way that serves Squadrani’s voice in a way we’re not used to hearing at least feels like a risk worth noting – it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, certainly. But it will be most of the Ancient Bards’ fandom’s cup of tea, myself included. Well worth the six-year wait.
