Ancient Bards

Founded in Italy in 2006 around keyboardist Daniele Mazza, Ancient Bards sits in a register that blends power metal and symphonic metal, with a very narrative writing, dense orchestrations and a central emphasis on Sara Squadrani's vocals. The band formed with Martino Garattoni, then stabilized its lineup from 2007 before several adjustments, including the arrival of drummer Federico Gatti in 2011 and the long-term incorporation of guitarist Simone Bertozzi after several years on stage. Ancient Bards developed from its outset a fantasy universe structured around The Black Crystal Sword Saga, a cycle started with the EP Trailer of the Black Crystal Sword Saga in 2008 and extended on the albums The Alliance of the Kings (2010), Soulless Child (2011), A New Dawn Ending (2014) and Origine - The Black Crystal Sword Saga Part 2 (2019). Their music combines fast guitars, orchestral keyboards, melodic choruses and choral arrangements in an aesthetic close to European epic metal of the 2000s, while maintaining a highly narrative approach from one album to the next. Present on metal stages in Europe, Ancient Bards also released Artifex in 2025, continuing this work between conceptual narration and symphonic metal with a strong melodic dimension.