Eluveitie

The Swiss folk metal band Eluveitie have a unique style which blends death metal with traditional Celtic folk melodies. It's an unlikely combination of influences created by using the usual rock instrumental hardware and combining it with tin whistles, flutes, bagpipes, fiddles and the hurdy gurdy. The band started out as a studio project and was the brainchild of vocalist Chrigel Glanzmann who began working on an EP titled 'Vên' which he released in 2003. The EP was so well received by fans and critics alike that Glanzmann was persuaded to recruit a band. After releasing their debut album 'Spirit' in 2006 the band began to attract attention from major labels and were eventually signed up by Nuclear Blast. Their first album for the label was the critically acclaimed 'Slania', spawning the track 'Inis Mona' which became the band's signature tune attracting over 27 million views on YouTube and forming a cornerstone of their live appearances. They have undergone numerous line-up changes over the years but Glanzmann remains a constant and the music has stayed faithful to his original ambitious concept.