Selvans - Saturnalia (2025)

Unleashing a very unique and theatrical release, today we have Selvans and their third full-length release “Saturnalia”. This one-man battalion has been delivering very different and unique releases in the past, and with this one he breaks further musical barriers by creating a highly engaging and theatrical Black/Heavy Metal with progressive elements. Think of a mixture of bands like Pensées Nocturnes with Notre Dame and some Snowy Shaw/King Diamond eccentricities. Definitely a unique blend.

Setting a very grand symphonic stage with the opener, “Il Mio Maleficio V'incalzerà!” quickly changes gears delivering a mix of crafty Black Metal-ish elements with some playful theatrics and a solid mixture of classical Heavy Metal elements. This is certainly quite different from the band’s previous releases, but that core darkness and horror/folklore elements are nicely blended with the more dramatic style. “Madre dei Tormenti” and “Pantàfica” keep the dramatic antics to the max, while unleashing some crafty lead guitars and even some progressive melodic interludes.

Our favorite song has to be the piercing “Il Capro Infuocato”, where Selvans feels more dialed in and features ravaging Black Metal onslaughts alongside dense atmospherics and very crafty tempo changes, perfectly blending in the band’s current style with some of their older antics. It is quite impressive that songs like “Fonte dei Diavoli” are very high-octane while still having that dramatic theatrical edge to them, creating a very rich and rewarding listening experience that has high replay value.

As a whole, “Saturnalia” is a very unique release that needs more than a few spins to really get under your skin and be appreciated. The songwriting is quite unique and well developed, with a rich palette of elements and vocal styles to keep things fresh and interesting. Definitely not recommended for purists of the band’s older style, but will be a great delight to those looking for bands that expand the limits of genres and push the boundaries of creativity.

Label: Avantgarde Music

Release: January 31st, 2025

Genre: Progressive Power/Black Metal

Country: Italy