Fiaba
I Racconti del Giullare Cantore

Finally, I allow myself some time to talk about a very Italian band that unfortunately not many people know... I'm talking about Fiaba, born back in 1991 in Siracusa. The musical proposal of this group is somewhat peculiar and deserves to be evaluated with due attention; in any case, I believe that their sound and style are perhaps among the most distinctive in the current national music scene.

The musical genre of Fiaba can be labeled as medieval metal, a subgenre of folk metal characterized by a strong rediscovery of ancient folk music, with extensive use of similar sounds and compositional structures. However, such a straightforward definition is somewhat reductive: from the first listen, it becomes clear that the band's musical proposal is very simple and gritty hard rock, with linear but captivating melodies, of Celtic-Mediterranean extraction. There are no moments of instrumental virtuosity or complex passages: the focus is much more on captivating riffs and galloping guitars and drums, which from time to time support the singer Giuseppe Brancato. This man has the merit of having a powerful and expressive voice, with very theatrical tones perfect for best rendering the lyrics.

In fact, if there's something truly unique and special about Fiaba's compositions, it's the lyrics: all written by drummer Bruno Rubino, who is the one in command of the band, they each take on a fantastic imaginary that delves into folk tradition and works like the collection of fairy tales by philologists Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Elves, knights, bewitched princesses, ogres, enchanted children are the protagonists of fascinating stories rich in allegory, stories that everyone has had the chance to hear at some point in their childhood, and which are still proposed today with unchanged beauty. It's not possible to associate this type of narrative with that of power metal, as someone might do: forget about finding immortal warriors slaying killer dragons; here, it is much more sober and, in a sense, more intimate and familiar.

All in all, Fiaba's style can greatly resemble that of Angelo Branduardi (although I refrain from making this comparison because I know very little about the singer-songwriter), and it brings a wave of freshness to the Italian music scene, now clogged with young pop artists like Finley, Lost, Tiziano Ferro, and the like. Although this band might not appeal to those looking for something more elaborate, especially musically, it remains an excellent example of what the more niche Italian music scene can do, one that lives secluded, without major promotions, but knows how to be consistent, productive, and a harbinger of true emotions.

This album, "I racconti del giullare cantore," is a great purchase for those wanting to get an idea of the band, although it is not easy to find and is quite expensive. It contains at least two of their most famous tracks, namely the electric ballad "Angelica e il folletto del salice" and the extraordinary "Le pere dell'orco," a musically very simple song, almost elementary, but with a unique atmosphere and feeling. As for the rest, we are faced with compositions of excellent level, like the ironic "Il crocchiaossa," the acoustic "I sogni nel sacchetto," or the long "Il luccio della fontana."

As I already mentioned at the beginning, this is a band that is talked about little, in fact very little (also because it's been several years since they last released anything), but it is definitely worth discovering. This album might help you understand why.