Gotland are a Pagan/Black Metal band, whose lyrics mainly concern the meeting and conflict between two different cultures, the barbaric populations coming from North and the glorious Roman Empire, and the consequences this had in Italian history.
The name Gotland was chosen unanimously, referring to precise historical references based on the origin of the first Italian sovereigns whom, according to the sources, were of Gothic origin. The choice of the name fell upon the Gotland island in Swedish territory, because it is thought that from there, the Goths heading South left when they came into contact with the Great Empire.
This musical project was born in 2007, formed by seven members: EG Orkan (guitars), Víðarr (male vocals), Vigdis (female vocals), Var (bass), Hoskuld (drums), Murcie (keyboards), Teodosio (violin). With this line-up, in 2008 they release their first self-titled Demo, with a typical Folk/Viking Metal sound.
In the Spring of 2009 Murcie leaves the band, and in her place joins the keyboardist Kaunis.
Some time later, the collaboration with Vigdis comes to an end, and she is replaced with the singer Karol.
At the beginning of November 2009 the violinist Teodosio is unfortunately forced to leave the band and in the beginning of 2010 Kaunis and Karol split up from Gotland too, and the band keeps on its work with just Viðarr’s scream/growl voice. This is the very beginning of a new musical path of the band, the sound is tending to more extreme and epic territories, thanks to the orchestral compositions of EG Orkan and Hoskuld. This is the sound that characterize the second record release of the band, the EP “Behind the Horizon”, out in 2010 and immediately welcomed with enthusiasm by critics.
Then, the style of the band continues to evolve becoming more aggressive, with openings to other genres, like Black Metal.
During September 2011, Arnbjörn (second guitar) e Jötunn (keyboard and backing vocals) come into the rehearsal room with the band and have their debut concert on November 5, 2011 during the third Metal Alliance Fest edition, but in July 2012 collaboration with Jötunn comes to end and the band decide not to replace his role.
The band begins to work on new material and Arnbjörn, in addition to guitars, begins to support Víðarr for vocal parts, and he’s confirmed up to expectations as second vocalist.
This musical path to an Epic/Pagan Black Metal (where the folk parts of the beginning are now only a secondary influence) is complete only in 2014 with the release of their first full-length album “Gloria et Morte”, recorded at Alarm Studio in Turin (Italy) and completely self-produced. From this album it’s picked the song “Slaves ov the Empire” for the release of an official video, shot in the setting of a real Roman arena.
In February 2015 the singer Víðarr, after being the frontman of the band for 8 years, leaves the project, but fortunately, in a very short time, the new singer Irmin is recruited.
The new line-up, that debuts on stage in Summer 2015, is now working on new material for the new album after “Gloria Et Morte”.
During these years, the band had the honor to share the stage with many and important groups of the metal scene like Eluveitie, Heidevolk, Corvus Corax, Cruachan, Folkstone, Furor Gallico, Draugr, Voltumna, Necrodeath and they had the possibility to participate at some great festivals, like the well-known Fosch Fest in 2010. Moreover the band organizes the Metal Alliance Fest every year in Autumn, a free-entry and nonprofit festival that now is a regular and awaited appointment in the Italian metal scene, and April 2014 marks the beginning of a new adventure labeled “Barbaric Legions”, because it gives birth to the Italic Pagan Fest, a newborn festival which goal is to spread passion and music of all the emerging bands and of the most influential of the Italic Folk/Viking/Pagan/Black scene.
