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Taking the bulk of their thematic inspiration from the fantasy world of author
J.R.R. Tolkien, Italian power metal combo
Wind Rose align themselves in particular with the Dwarven race. A mix of sprightly symphonic and folk-metal, the band spent the mid-2010s rising the ranks of the European metal community, paying allegiance to the Dwarves in both song and appearance before the success of their 2017 track "To Erebor" brought them greater visibility. After signing with Napalm Records, they became a viral success with the Dwarf anthem "Diggy Diggy Hole" from the 2019 album
Wintersaga.
Formed in Pisa in 2009,
Wind Rose's lineup includes vocalist Francesco Cavalieri, guitarist
Claudio Falconcini, keyboardist Federico Meranda, bassist Cristiano Bertocchi, and drummer Federico Gatti. Both their thematic world and knack for crafting rousing power metal were in place from the beginning, and based on the strength of a 2010 demo, they earned a contract with Bakerteam Records to record their debut album, Shadows Over Lothadruin, in 2012. Over the next few years they worked to establish themselves, touring with bands like
Finntroll and
Epica in advance of their 2015 follow-up, Wardens of the West Wind.
By the time of their third long-player,
Stonehymn,
Wind Rose had begun to find a wider audience. Released in 2017 by Inner Wound Recordings, the album's second single, "To Erebor," became a surprise hit, notching a significant number of streams and earning
Wind Rose slots at prestigious festivals like Bloodstock in England and Masters of Rock in the Czech Republic. Signing with Napalm Records, the band released the single "Diggy Diggy Hole" in June 2019. A straight-up Dwarf anthem based around an online catchphrase used by players of the video game Minecraft, the song went viral and drew much attention to
Wind Rose's fourth album,
Wintersaga, which arrived later that September. ~ Timothy Monger