Album Review: Nanowar of Steel – Italian Folk Metal (Napalm Records)

Parody metal powerhouse Nanowar of Steel turns to the musical roots of their homeland, bringing heavy new life to traditional Italian music on their new album Italian Folk Metal. Out on July 2nd 2021 via Napalm Records, each song on Italian Folk Metal is performed in a distinct style of Italian folk music.

There are two things you can always be assured of with Nanowar of Steel. The first is that their music is always going to be fun, silly but fun. The other is that their music is always going to be awesome. Once again, with this new album, both turn out to be true.

Is this the most epic Nanowar of Steel have sounded? It’s certainly the prettiest as the intro of Requiem per Gigi Sabani in Re minore showcases symphonic grandness and folkish wonder. It then leads to the bombastic L’Assedio di Porto Cervo that features the guttural vocal talents of Fleshgod Apocalypse’s Francesco Paoli for added intensity. It’s a mature sounding Nanowar of Steel song and if you played a person something like Norwegian Reggaeton and then this, they would be unlikely to think it was the same band.

What they will know from that and the following La Maledizione di Capitan Findus is that Nanowar of Steel are a blast to listen too. The high energy heavy metal, folk infusion and grandiose symphonic elements are combined expertly here. It fills the mind, heart and soul with positive vibes and makes you feel ten feet tall.

The anthemic La Marcia su Piazza Grande, the super-traditional folk sound of La Mazurka del Vecchio che Guarda i Cantieri (that features Alessandro Conti of Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody and Trick or Treat), the grin-inducing powerhouse that is La Polenta Taragnarock and the retro, mellow touch that Scugnizzi of the Land of Fires has, ensures fun is at the forefront of Nanowar of Steel’s mind here. It just so happens they are quality musicians too. Nowhere is that better exemplified then by the fist-pumping and air-grabbing epic ballad of Rosario.

It’s back to a frenzy of head-banging metal and traditional folk melody but in Nanowar of Steel’s inimitable way. Il Signore degli Anelli dello Stadio is such a crowd-pleasing singalong (even if you don’t speak Italian) and Gabonzo Robot is so damn catchy. Whereas the uber-folk energy of Sulle Aliquote Della Libertà and punchy rhythm of Der Fluch des Kapt’n Iglo keeps things sounding strong at the end.

Which of course does mean the parody unit go out with a bang, dialling up the folk side of things for a late party and singalong in the form of El baile de los Viejo que Mira las Obras.

It’s a great release, filled with all manner of bombastic and traditional Italian sounds blended with Nanowar of Steel’s penchant for heavy metal. Fun, a bit silly, energetic and catchy. Even if you don’t always love everything they do, everyone can appreciate the effort they put in to entertain.

Nanowar of Steel – Italian Folk Metal Full Track Listing:

1. Requiem per Gigi Sabani in Re minore
2. L’Assedio di Porto Cervo
3. La Maledizione di Capitan Findus
4. La Marcia su Piazza Grande
5. La Mazurka del Vecchio che Guarda i Cantieri
6. La Polenta Taragnarock
7. Scugnizzi of the Land of Fires
8. Rosario
9.Il Signore degli Anelli dello Stadio
10. Gabonzo Robot
11. Sulle Aliquote Della Libertà
12. Der Fluch des Kapt’n Iglo
13. El baile de los Viejo que Mira las Obras

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