Storm over Scaldis
Storm Over Scaldis is the first full album by the Belgian heavy metal band Angeli Di Pietra. The album represents a variety of styles, all attributed to the band in some way or another. Going from Death metal to Gothic metal, influenced by Viking metal and power metal and with a clear folky touch, it is very hard to categorise the band in a specific genre. Angeli Di Pietra calls their style Powerfolk, and uses the catchphrase "Powerfolk for the Masses!".
One of the most remarkable features on the album is the equilibrium between the vocalists, also known as the beauty and the beast concept, a nicely balanced singing dialogue between heavy grunts and soprano female vocals. Another typical Angeli Di Pietra concept is melodic guitar harmonies. In some songs there are up to eight simultaneous guitar lines playing, resulting in rather complex music with many layers.
Storm Over Scaldis was the first Angeli Di Pietra recording where the guitars were down-tuned to (D, G, C, F, A, D) while the previous albums and demos were in regular E-tuning.
Lyrics and Subjects
The themes on "Storm Over Scaldis" are mostly mythology and history, often combined. The lyrics may not be 100% historically correct, but they are usually based on facts like the very first Viking raid on "Lindisfarne" in 793, the story AbOUT the Spanish grand-inquisitor "Torquemada" or the battle between the Romans and the Saxons at Wippedesfleot in "Ride Into Oblivion". Or the lyrics are based on original myths like the story of the Celtic god "Manannán Mac Lir". Sometimes the legend is told somewhat differently than the original. This is the case with "Medusa" who is placed in the Egyptian desert in stead of in ancient Greece.
Some songs are completely fictional with a fantasy-theme, like "Frost" or "Legendary Forest", about wraiths or goblins.
The album title is derived from the Latin name for the river Scheldt, which flows through Antwerp (Belgium), hometown of the band. The Storm in the title is what the band hopes to unleash with the album.
Artwork and booklet
- The album cover is a painting by Marijke Vervloet, and is based on the painting Le Radeau de la Méduse by Théodore Géricault. The original composition is kept, but there are only six people left on the raft, stylistically depicting the band members.
- The booklet is also designed by Marijke Vervloet and contains drawings of every band member, depicted as a certain character from the lyrics. These drawings are designed as a role play - playing card. Every member has his name and function in the band mentioned, as well as a quote from the according lyrics. On top of the card can be seen the name or the title of the character, on the bottom the character he or she is representing. For example, bass player Kurt is on the "Frost" card, as an Ice Wraith, with the quote "Surrendered to his mercy".
- The photography in the booklet is done by Aron.
Album information
- All songs written by Gaël Sortino and Angeli Di Pietra.
- All lyrics written by Guy Van Campenhout and Sjoera Roggeman.
- All arrangements by Angeli Di Pietra.
- Recorded in Excess Studios, July – September 2008 by Angeli Di Pietra.
- Mixed and Mastered in Excess Studios by Hans Pieters.
- Produced by Hans Pieters and Angeli Di Pietra.
Guilty Parties
The Band
- Gaël Sortino
Founding Member, Lead Guitars - Quevin Smeyers
Founding Member, Rhythm Guitars - Sjoera Roggeman
Soprano & Female Vocals - Kurt Hermans
Bass & Backing vocals - Guy Van Campenhout
Vocals, Grunts & Screams - Vincent Pichal
Drums & Orchestrations
Guest Musicians
- Hans Pieters
Keyboards on "Medusa" - Bram Dewachter
Guitar (Ebow) on "Torquemada" - Louise Schillebeeckx
Violin-intro on "Mannánan mac Lir"
The Studio Crew
- Hans Pieters
Main Producer - Bram Dewachter
Producer/Engineer for guitar recordings - Harry
Studio Intern/Assistant Producer