SELVANS

Experimental/Post Metal • Italy

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Selvans biography
Active since 2014, Selvans are an Italian post-black metal project from Abruzzo, formed by members of Draugr after their dissolution. Signed to Italian label Avantgarde Music, Selvans began as the vision of keyboardist, multi-instrumentalist and actor Luca Del Re (aka Selvans Haruspex), joined by guitarist/bassist Alessandro Coletti (aka Sethlans Fulguriator) and accompanied in their early days by vocalist/drummer Jonny Morelli and bassist Emanuele Stolas. Named after the Etruscan forest god, Selvans' aesthetical and lyrical themes focus on pagan Italian folklore and mythology, performing songs in Italian, English and Latin. Selvans' foundation is atmospheric black metal infused with ancient Etruscan and Roman melodies, similar in approach to Negură Bunget, Moonsorrow and Nokturnal Mortum (whose "Goat Horns" Selvans covered for a 2016 compilation).

Selvans debuted in late 2014 with a single edit of the track "Lupercale", later released in full on next year's Clangores Plenilunio; the EP - which featured a cover of the eponymous In the Woods... song from their first album - was the final recorded appearance of Morelli before his death in a motorcycle accident, with Del Re to later take his place as lead vocalist. Now a duo, Del Re and Coletti were joined by a revolving door of session players, beginning with 2015's Lupercalia LP and including Kjiel (of Eyelessight, Sacrimoon and Angor Animi), Marco Di Carlo (aka Cordyceps M; of Arvensvarthe and Grimorium), Christian D'Onofrio (aka Acheron; of Insonus and L.A.C.K.) and Hy�krisht (also of Eyelessight), the latter two remaining close and constant conspirators across Selvans' work. A 2016 collaborative split with like-minded Argentian band Downfall of Nur followed, succeeded by the 2017 live album Hirpi.

While light avant-garde flourishes are detectable in what the band calls their discography's "first chapter," more overt Rock Progressivo Italiano influences appear by 2018's sophomore album Faunalia and the 2021 follow-up EP Dark Italian Art, gradually scaling back the folk elements and introducing more "modern" sounds influenced by Goblin and Claudio Simonetti, along with Ennio Morricone, Riz Ortolani and giallo directors Giuseppe Avati, Lucio Fulci, Mario Bava and Dario Argento. Selvans expanded their sonic palette on Faunalia with guest musicians from different corners of extreme metal, neofolk and dark prog like Tumulash (of Tumulus Anmatus and Kult), Michele Venezia (of Agghiastru and o...Active since 2014, Selvans are an Italian post-black metal project from Abruzzo, formed by members of Draugr after their dissolution. Signed to Italian label Avantgarde Music, Selvans began as the vision of keyboardist, multi-instrumentalist and actor Luca Del Re (aka Selvans Haruspex), joined by guitarist/bassist Alessandro Coletti (aka Sethlans Fulguriator) and accompanied in their early days by vocalist/drummer Jonny Morelli and bassist Emanuele Stolas. Named after the Etruscan forest god, Selvans' aesthetical and lyrical themes focus on pagan Italian folklore and mythology, performing songs in Italian, English and Latin. Selvans' foundation is atmospheric black metal infused with ancient Etruscan and Roman melodies, similar in approach to Negură Bunget, Moonsorrow and Nokturnal Mortum (whose "Goat Horns" Selvans covered for a 2016 compilation).

Selvans debuted in late 2014 with a single edit of the track "Lupercale", later released in full on next year's Clangores Plenilunio; the EP - which featured a cover of the eponymous In the Woods... song from their first album - was the final recorded appearance of Morelli before his death in a motorcycle accident, with Del Re to later take his place as lead vocalist. Now a duo, Del Re and Coletti were joined by a revolving door of session players, beginning with 2015's Lupercalia LP and including Kjiel (of Eyelessight, Sacrimoon and Angor Animi), Marco Di Carlo (aka Cordyceps M; of Arvensvarthe and Grimorium), Christian D'Onofrio (aka Acheron; of Insonus and L.A.C.K.) and Hy�krisht (also of Eyelessight), the latter two remaining close and constant conspirators across Selvans' work. A 2016 collaborative split with like-minded Argentian band Downfall of Nur followed, succeeded by the 2017 live album Hirpi.

While light avant-garde flourishes are detectable in what the band calls their discography's "first chapter," more overt Rock Progressivo Italiano influences appear by 2018's sophomore album Faunalia and the 2021 follow-up EP Dark Italian Art, gradually scaling back the folk elements and introducing more "modern" sounds influenced by Goblin and Claudio Simonetti, along with Ennio Morricone, Riz Ortolani and giallo directors Giuseppe Avati, Lucio Fulci, Mario Bava and Dario Argento. Selvans expanded their sonic palette on Faunalia with guest musicians from different corners of extreme metal, neofolk and dark prog like Tumulash (of Tumulus Anmatus and Kult), Michele Venezia (of Agghiastru and others) and Renato Carpaneto (aka Mercy La Morgue; of Ianva and formerly of Malombra and Il Segno del Comando). By 2019, Selvans became the solo vehicle for Del Re, continuing the tradition of playing live and in the studio with guest collaborators. With Coletti, Hy�krisht and D'Onofrio among them along with newcomers Federico Natalini (of Downfall) and Michael Anderlucci (of Abazia and Infernal Angels), Selvans' Dark Italian Art showed the band embracing even more progressive rock characteristics, featuring covers of songs by Death SS and obscure RPI band Metamorfosi.

- Gordy, June 2023read more