The Italian folk/power/melodic death metal band Æxylium began back in 2014 and released their debut album, Tales from this Land, in 2018 and followed that up three years later with The Fifth Season. As one might imagine with the relative popularity of folk metal in Europe, the band has played numerous festivals and shared the stage with the likes of Wind Rose and Elvenking as well as Blind Guardian. Myth of Mankind is the debut for new drummer Alberto Mezzanotte (ex-Frozen Crown) and new vocalist Sam Biganzoli who shares vocals with the ethereal Arianna Bellinaso. The album was produced by band members Fabio Buzzago and Stefano Colombo working with Alberto Bernasconi and Davide Tevecchia who has worked with the band on previous albums. Recording, mixing, and mastering was handled by Davide Tevecchia at Twilight Studio.
Not knowing a band at all and just hitting play on an album can reveal a lot and first impressions matter, often unfortunately. Myth of Mankind was my first exposure to Æxylium, so I was unsure about what lay ahead. The first track serves as an intro track and is largely instrumental, builds nicely toward the end, and has a distinct, but subtle folk feel to it, suggesting what lay ahead was likely folk metal or power metal. Then track 2, “The Queen” kicks in with some rapid fire drums and fast riffing and….some traditional flutes overlaid which pointed me to the folk metal.
Vocals on the song are rough, growled shouting courtesy of new vocalist Sam Biganzoli. Partway through the fast song is a slow tempo flute and violin section that sets up the last half of the song very well with a catchy melody that Sam growls over. Quite a few twists and turns in the song keep it interesting and the production/mixing mastering is very well done.
“Hexe” is an obviously folk metal song from the very beginning with its traditional instruments carrying the load and then the breakdown with only traditional instruments backing the ethereal vocals of first Arianna Bellinaso and then the darker raspy growls of Biganzoli again. Violins play a key role in the overall song and are featured well but backed solidly by the metal section. This is, I hate to say it, but almost a formulaic folk metal hit that should have broad appeal with its bouncy chorus, great vocals, and use of traditional instruments. Nothing wrong with it at all.
When we get into the next song “Into Oblivion”, my thoughts about this band being very similar to Eluveitie start becoming louder in my head and that wills stay with me through the rest of the review. It seems hard to avoid comparisons to one of the top folk metal bands but that’s where we are. Fortunately, Æxylium have the talent and strong performances to survive such a comparison.
Initial vocals on “In Sorrow” deviate significantly from what is expected and veer strongly toward black metal which threw me at first but then they settle into the raspy, deep almost death metal shouted vocals we heard before and that really works. Musically the song has near blast beat sections, slower musical interludes, and a melodic chorus/refrain that is really catchy. The arrangements for the song and the composition is pretty complex combining fast power metal with traditional folk elements into an enjoyable listen where it all blends together in a way that makes sense. “Myth of Mankind” starts out in a somewhat similar fashion but adds in brief clean vocals to the mix of black and death backed by music heavily weighted toward the traditional elements except when the deep growled death vocals predominate. The lone bassline at the midpoint of the song with instruments and clean vocals coming in led by the flute and violin is brilliant. Similar to “In Sorrow” there is so much sonically going on in this song and together it all makes sense.
The rest of the album, “Ecclisi”, “Wild Hunt”, “Surrender”, “Northern Lights”, and “Eternity” all are less adventurous than “In Sorrow” and “Myth of Mankind” but are very solid if not somewhat familiar folk metal. If nothing else, performances on the tracks are strong and there are some gems in there worth checking out.
Myth of Mankind is one of those albums that while not groundbreaking from start to finish, does have its moments and even in its most familiar has nothing but strong performances and songwriting/arranging. It’s one of those albums that you can put on seemingly any day or time or occasion and it works.
Rating: 8/10
Written by John Jackson
Tracklist
1. Fontes et Omnia
2. The Queen
3. Hexe
4. Into Oblivion
5. In Sorrow
6. Myth of Mankind
7. Eclissi
8. Wild Hunt
9. Surrender
10. Northern Lights
11. Eternity
Release Date: May 23, 2025
Record Label: Rockshots Records
Band Members:
Sam Biganzoli – vocals
Arianna Bellinaso – vocals
Fabio Buzzago – guitar, backing vocals, orchestrations
Luca Perrone – guitar
Gabriele Cacocciola – bass, backing vocals
Alberto Mezzanotte – drums
Leandro Pessina – flutes, bouzouki, mandolin
Federico Bonoldi – violin
Stefano Colombo – keyboards, orchestrations
Video for “Myth of Mankind”
Video for “Hexe”
Weblinks:
Bandcamp: http://aexylium.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/%C3%86xylium-739097499541325
Band site: https://www.aexylium.it/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aexylium_official/