Ancient Bards

Ancient Bards come from Rimini in Emilia-Romagna. The project started in 2006, when keyboardist Daniele Mazza teamed up with bassist Martino Garattoni. Singer Sara Squadrani and guitarist Claudio Pietronik joined in 2007, and from the start the band had one purpose: to set Mazza’s fantasy story, The Black Crystal Sword Saga, to orchestral metal. A first recording, Trailer of the Black Crystal Sword Saga, followed in 2008.

The debut album The Alliance of the Kings arrived in 2010 as the first chapter of the saga. Soulless Child came only a year later, in 2011, and A New Dawn Ending (2014), released by Limb Music, closed the first part of the story as a trilogy. Federico Gatti replaced drummer Alessandro Carichini after the debut, and guitarist Fabio Balducci left in 2014.

Second guitarist Simone Bertozzi became a full member in 2018. That year the band announced Origine – The Black Crystal Sword Saga Part 2, which Limb Music released on 25 January 2019 and which opened the second part of the saga. It was the first album with the current six-piece line-up, two guitarists included, and like the earlier records it was written around Mazza’s story.

Six years later came Artifex, the fifth album, released by Limb Music on 25 April 2025 in Europe. The singles “Soulbound Symphony” and “Ministers of Light” came out ahead of it. The record features a 42-voice choir, and the guests include Mark Jansen of Epica and Francesco Cavalieri of Wind Rose.

Current line-up: Sara Squadrani (vocals), Daniele Mazza (keyboards, orchestrations), Claudio Pietronik (guitars), Simone Bertozzi (guitars), Martino Garattoni (bass), Federico Gatti (drums)