Eluveitie

Prepare to journey through ancient history and modern metal with Eluveitie, the groundbreaking Swiss folk metal band that has carved a unique niche in the heavy metal landscape. Hailing from Winterthur, Zürich, and founded in 2002 by mastermind Chrigel Glanzmann, Eluveitie stands out for its masterful blend of aggressive melodic death metal with authentic traditional Celtic folk music, often featuring lyrics in a reconstructed form of the ancient Gaulish language.

The name “Eluveitie” itself is steeped in history, deriving from a graffiti inscription found on a vessel from Mantua, Italy, dating back to around 300 BC. In Etruscan letters, “eluveitie” is interpreted as “the Helvetian” or “the Swiss,” a direct reference to the Helvetii, an ancient Celtic tribe residing in what is now Switzerland. This deep connection to Celtic culture, history, and mythology is a defining characteristic of the band’s identity and lyrical themes.

Initially conceived as a studio project by Chrigel Glanzmann (who handles lead vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, whistles, bagpipes, and bodhrán), Eluveitie released their first demo, Vên, in 2003. Its unique approach, placing folk instruments on an equal footing with metal, quickly gained attention. The project soon evolved into a full band, with a rotating cast of talented musicians who brought a diverse array of traditional instruments to the forefront. This includes instruments rarely heard in metal, such as the hurdy-gurdy, tin whistles, flutes, bagpipes, fiddles, and mandolins, all seamlessly integrated into their crushing sound.