“The roots of the Blacksmith Tales project were born in the 1990s, when I had already written on the piano the foundations of almost all the tracks that make up the concept of the first record The Dark Presence, inspired by the numerous readings of that period,” says David Del Fabro, who for some time played in cover bands of Rush, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Kansas, Gentle Giant. After years of inactivity, the stimulus to fix and record the songs definitively arrived with fatherhood, after which David approached Luca Zanon for a possible collaboration, gathering immediate enthusiasm. With the involvement of some good musicians with whom he works, Blacksmith Tales was thus born. The name is one of David‘s favourite puns, invented, however, by Luca, who plays with his surname, Del Fabro: Blacksmith means, precisely, blacksmith.
Three years after their debut “The Dark Presence,” also with Aereostella, “Pathway to Hamlet’s Mill” is the second album by the group led by David Del Fabro, who, as in the previous one, took care of the concept, music and lyrics. The theme and leitmotif of the album is the book Hamlet’s Mill by Giorgio de Santillana and Hertha von Dechend, which deals in a revolutionary way with myth as a form of perpetuation of the knowledge of the ancients and the structure of time. A time that is no longer linear and consequential but marked by cycles and fatalities written in the sky (Dance of the Stars), in a vortex that turns back on itself and grinds time (Key to the Temple). The journey of The Dark Presence continues, maintaining strong ties with the culture of ancient Egypt, which is enriched with new nuances and meanings. Each track, with the exception of “Interlude,” is accompanied by a short quotation that serves as an introduction and provides the key to reading and interpreting the text. An interesting novelty is represented by the ballad “C’è casa a trenta miglia,” sung in Italian, in which the author’s melancholic memories of childhood that cannot return merge with a vision of a possible future.
The lineup sees the entry of Stefano Sbrignadello on vocals and Simone Morettin on drums, while Beatrice Demori on vocals (and curator of the evocative cover image), Marco Falanga on guitars and bass, Luca Zanon on keyboards and synth, and finally Del Fabro himself on piano are confirmed in the line-up. The sound is compact and the production neat and clean, thanks also to Morettin‘s effective drumming and Zanon and Falanga‘s contribution to the arrangements.
Purchase the album here: https://www.aereostella.com/prodotto/blacksmith-tales-pathway-to-hamlets-mill-cd/
Tracklist:
01. Hamlet’s Mill Overture (9:03)
02. Key to the Temple (6:05)
03. C’è Casa a 30 Miglia (3:29)
04. The Flame Within (6:18)
05. Interlude: A Guide Through the Path (1:48)
06. Descent of God (6:31)
07. The Pendulum (5:33)
08. Dance of the Stars (7:03)
Lineup:
Stefano Sbrignadello / Vocals
Simone Morettin / Drums
Beatrice Demori / Vocals
Marco Falanga / Guitars, Bass
Luca Zanon / Keyboards, Synth
David Del Fabro / Piano
Read our Review here: [Review] Blacksmith Tales – Pathway to Hamlet’s Mill