Album Review: Selvans – Saturnalia (Avantgarde Music)

Prepare for a masterclass in creativity as Selvans release their latest creation titled Saturnalia on the 31st of January via Avantgarde Music.

The singer and keyboardist Selvans plays heavy metal with black metal and prog-rock influences. After two full-length albums, Lupercalia and Faunalia, he released the “Dark Italian Art” EP via Avantgarde Music in 2021. A release described as an artistic manifesto for which he teamed up with the horror writer Luigi Musolino.

This new album, Saturnalia comes with lyrics and a concept inspired by Italian folk-horror tales and imagery. Saturnalia is sung entirely in Italian. It also sees, for the first time, an orchestra and a choir consisting of 60 elements playing side by side with Selvans and his band. Saturnalia was produced by Selvans and mixed and mastered by Marco S. Vermiglio at The Forge Music Productions (Stockholm). The cover artwork was created by Sheila Franco.

Saturnalia will also sadly be the final album of this project.

Selvans is Selvans on vocals and keys, Chris D’Onofrio on guitars, Agares on bass, Marco Berrettoni on drums and Antonio Scelzi with additional lead guitars.

Saturnalia gets underway with the introduction track, Necromilieu. It’s less than two minutes yet manages to be the most exciting, engaging and gorgeous intros I have heard in a long, long time. Heavy use of the orchestra sets us up with violins and piano setting the scene. This grows, adding menace to the sound, a bit of drums and a choir then bag, screaming lead guitars. That transforms into a more melodic line, which, combined with the orchestra is nothing short of stunning.  It leads seamlessly straight into the first full track, Il Mio Maleficio V’incalzerà! where it then transforms.

The vocals join in and offer a wide range that deliver black metal tones, but also traditional metal with some pretty high pitched notes being hit. It has a touch of Hell to it, then a touch of Mercyful Fate or sometimes hints of Heaven & Hell. The drums are ripping, the guitars banging out riffs and solos all at a strong pace. I really like that it is all sung in Italian as it adds authenticity to the concept of being inspired by Italian folk-horror tales and imagery. I get that feeling from the music and it really shines through in the impeccable ending segment with organs and pianos played at pace alongside the heavy drums and guitars. That is a wickedly good song.

Madre dei Tormenti really brings atmosphere and drama to the forefront with a really clever and unique song. Leaning heavily on the orchestrals and moving through different passages, it sounds a bit like an opera, or at least a musical. Vocals are sung in that style and backed by pianos and horns and harps and more, you feel engaged and involved. The slight snarl on the vocals adds menace that then helps to make the overall piece seem darker and more threatening. It’s insanely different to the previous track, showing just how much talent and creativity pours out of Selvans.

Pantàfica heads back towards the heavier side of things, instrument wise. Instantly grabbing your attention with it’s intro that combines screams and yells, screaming lead guitars, ripping drums and a little organ. So much happens almost every second but it all works so well. As this melodic and fiery start transforms into a riff monster, black metal track, at least for a burst, you can’t not be impressed. Across the length of the track, expect to be wowed with expansive creativity but also with some straight up heaviness. Whether through orchestral touches, through solos, changes in vocal tones and styles, it is a constantly moving and evolving beast and exciting from start to end.

The quality keeps coming with Il Capro Infuocato up next and it stays on the heavier side especially when it comes to pace, riffs and drum beats. Vocally, it’s a bit more shouty with plenty of high pitch notes. The guitars are awesome and the pace will keep you feeling fully energised. I adore the switch to a chanting section, then the transition back into even faster and almost chaotic music. Added touches from choirs add so much to the atmosphere and depth of the song as well. As it closes out we get an excellent choir chanting section. All while the drums are ripping out alongside an absolutely mammoth guitar solo that sees the track reach it’s end spectacularly.

Speaking of ends, we have sadly reached it with the final track on Saturnalia titled Fonte dei Diavoli that comes in at nearly  minutes in length. I’m expecting a lot. Saturnalia has been at such a high standard so far, and of course that doesn’t drop here. Of course a lot of the elements we have heard so far are here. From huge guitar solos and bombastic orchestral blasts, then combinations of both. The drums are excellent, the riffs strong and the vocals deliver in every possible range.

We have sung vocals, shouted, screamed and roared. High tone, low tone, growls and then we have the backing from gang vocals, to choirs. Guitars really drive a lot of this song forward with absolutely huge leads and solos from clearly an exceptionally gifted musician. It’s not just the individual elements that are so cool here, it’s the flow of the songs and the structure that just grabs you, holds you and exhilarates.

It’s hard to explain in words quite how impactful and inspiring Saturnalia is. It needs to be heard, or maybe the right term is “experienced”. I found the whole album to be absolutely mesmerising offering creativity on a scale that I didn’t know existed. I mean, I listen to some pretty creative stuff at times. Selvans, though, need a scale just for themselves. It seems totally unfair to judge anyone else against a standard as high as this. A genuine album of the year contender here. I love it.

TRACKLIST

1. Necromilieu

2. Il Mio Maleficio V’incalzerà!

3. Madre dei Tormenti

4. Pantàfica

5. Il Capro Infuocato

6. Fonte dei Diavoli

Selvans Links

Website – Instagram – Facebook – YouTube – Avantgarde Music