History & Biography Elvenking was formed in the Sacile area of Italy in 1997 by guitarists Aydan and Jarpen. The band soon established itself as a so-called folk metal act with clear Skyclad and Sabbat influences. The band in fact backed Martin Walkyier of both those bands on stage at the Metal.It festival in 2002. Bassist Sargon would exit in 1998. At the time of the recording of the first demo, To Oak Woods Bestowed, Damnagoras was both the band’s singer and bassist. Damnagoras rejoined the band in 2004 after the release of Wyrd. The Winter Wake featured guest vocals by Destruction’s Schmier. The band supported Jon Oliva in Europe in 2006. The band announced Two Tragedy Poets (...And A Caravan Of Weird Figures) as the title for its new acoustic album, due on November 14th, 2008 through AFM Records. The Winter Wake and The Wanderer were re-recordings of older Elvenking songs. Guitarist Aydan was forced to miss the band's shows in March, 2009 after breaking his shoulder in a skiing accident. The band would not wait for him. It recruited a new man called Leonardo for the shows. Another man who was disposable was the drummer. After 12 years in the band Drummer Zender left Elvenking in 2011 for "personal reasons” and was promptly replaced by Symohn. Secret Sphere and Elvenking would join forces for an Italian co-headlining tour, The Italian Alliance, in October 2012 taking place across that country.
Martin Walkyier's Viking Funeral was the monicker for three shows in the UK that included performance of Skyclad songs for the final time. The man had members of Elvenking serving as musicians. Devilment, a new project of Cradle Of Filth vocalist Dani Filth, was opening. The Night of Nights – Live was accompanied by a DVD and recorded at Pordenone in North-eastern Italy.
Symohn left the drum position in 2017, but would rejoin in 2022. Drummer Lancs was in the band between 2017 and 2022. Guitarist Rafahel departed in 2022. HeadMatt replaced him. Elvenking and label-mates Brothers Of Metal toured to begin 2020. The band opened for Gloryhammer in Europe in 2022. The Reader Of The Runes albums were a continuous story. The band was booked for 70000 Tons Of Metal in 2023. The band and Glyph were supporting Alestorm on tour in the spring of 2024. The band, alongside Ensiferum, Týr, Heidevolk, and Alestorm, was booked for the Paganfest tour to begin 2025.
Reviews ELVENKING - THE WINTER WAKE - CANDLELIGHT 
Italy and elves? This third album from the 'popular Italian prog/metal band' is perhaps not surprisingly mixed in Finland. Mixing genuine heavy metal sounds with violins just doesn’t work and if Elvenking is indeed popular it is in spite of that or just a poor reflection on the tastes of the music buyer. The best way to describe the band and The Winter Wake is one part Blind Guardian, one part Stratovarius and a few parts the folk sounds of the likes of Finntroll. - Anna Tergel
ELVENKING - TWO TRAGEDY POETS ... AND A CARAVAN OF WEIRD FIGURES - AFM 
Hypocrites, liars, traitors and betrayers are those who review Elvenking’s music and term it ”˜heavy metal.’ Admittedly, Elvenking is one step ahead of the trend curve. Whereas its supposed folk-rock kin are still running around Europe buying their way into Metal Hammer with wimpy instruments from Finland, Albania and Morocco, these guys have completely abandoned HMS Poseur and become an outright pop band. The album’s songs sound like the bastard child of newer Edguy, Dexys Midnight Runners and The Cure. Happily, for the assorted stupid and moronic, the album still features Irish bouzouki, grand piano, tin whistle, low whistle, bodhran and (grandma’s favourite) Uilleann pipes. What, no harp?
Two Tragedy Poets is utter rubbish, of course, and one didn’t need a cover version of '80s pop singer Belinda Carlisle’s Heaven Is A Place On Earth to figure it out. How original! The band has a cover version. Wonder why no one else came up with that idea.
Really, the guy pictured with a cup and a saucer drinking tea sums it all up. Why can’t the band adhere to its own line that, “singing proud my final song”? Two Tragedy Poets ... And A Caravan Of Weird Figures is such a deep and meaningful title. Equally profound is this: Elvenking sucks. - Ali “The Metallian”
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