* * * OUTSTANDING ITALIAN PROGRESSIVE FOLK! * * *

Founded in 2014 in Verona by singer and guitarist Valerio “Willy” Goattin, Galaverna debuted one year later with a gem inspired by Northern European progressive-folk sounds named “Dodsdans” (The Dance of Death), a concept album that celebrates the charm of a pure and uncontaminated nature that reveals to be, at the same time, cruel and lethal for the living beings who want to approach it.

“Wagdans” (The Dance of the Faun), composed by Valerio during the lockdown and recorded by a half-completely renewed line-up, is a natural follow-up to the previous album, whose final verses tell of a now inhospitable planet, completely covered with ice. Thanks to a warmer and more organic production, this new album instead celebrates a return to life, accompanying with its acoustic and pastoral atmospheres the imaginary pagan dance of the Green Man, while making the once hostile lands of our planet flourish again.

In these years of ’70s progressive rock sounds rediscovery, Galaverna are among the very few who dare to explore the folk side of the genre; if the Scandinavians Kebnekajse and Ragnarök and the more recent Landberk, Elds Mark and Jordsjø tell you something – along with other British legends such a Trees, Mellow Candle and Tudor Lodge – you’ll be absolutely delighted by “Wagdans”!

Papersleeve CD edition.