Ataraxia Announces Details of 30th Studio Album ‘Sylfaera the Fair’ and Releases Title Track Video
Ataraxia, an Italian neoclassical dark folk band, is set to release their 30th studio album titled “Sylfaera the Fair” on May 21, 2026, through The Circle Music label. This album marks the conclusion of a trilogy that began with “Pomegranate (The Chant of the Elementals)” in 2022 and continued with “Centaurea” in 2024.
The musical essence of “Sylfaera the Fair” revolves around dark and ritual folk elements, drawing inspiration from medieval and Nordic musical traditions. The tracks incorporate uilleann pipes, bouzouki, tribal percussion, and layered vocals, accompanied by keyboards, guitars, and timpani, providing a rich orchestral backdrop. The album’s narrative follows a group of artists and warriors on a quest that ultimately leads them to a plateau surrounded by waterfalls under the glow of a full moon. Here, their energies transition from the physical realm to the spiritual, embracing a new psycho-spiritual state.
The album concept ties in with the band’s theme of “travelling stones,” which consists of one hundred hand-drawn stones adorned with an eye motif, each paired with a handwritten oracle inspired by Greek deities or figures from mythology. Purchasers of the limited box set will receive one of these unique stones as a talisman, along with an individual oracle.
“Sylfaera the Fair” will be available in three physical editions, including a standard Digi CD with a 16-page booklet, a marbled transparent turquoise and black vinyl limited to 400 copies, and a deluxe black box embossed in silver, restricted to 100 copies worldwide. The box set contains a silver vinyl pressing of the album, the Digi CD, a numbered certificate of authenticity, a 16-page art booklet, one of the hand-painted Travelling Stones with a pendant necklace, and a handwritten oracle.
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by guitarist Vittorio Vandelli between April and December 2025, the artwork concept and layout of the album were handled by Nicolas Ramain. The core band members include Francesca Nicoli (vocals, bells, chimes), Vittorio Vandelli (bouzouki, guitars, drums, programming), and Giovanni Pagliari (keyboards, horn, programming), with contributions from Gregorio Bellodi and Alessia Baraldi.
The title track, “Sylfaera,” is already available as a digital single on various platforms and is accompanied by an official music video. Ataraxia, hailing from northern Italy, has crafted a unique sound blending neoclassical dark wave and dark folk elements. The band’s history dates back to the late 1980s, with a lineup that solidified in the early 1990s, combining electronic technology with traditional instruments and exploring themes of nature, ancient cultures, and mythology in their music.
With an extensive discography spanning decades and various formats, Ataraxia’s innovative approach to music has garnered them a dedicated fan base. Their collaboration with The Circle Music, established with the release of “Pomegranate (The Chant of the Elementals)” in 2022, has continued with subsequent albums like “Centaurea” in 2024 and now “Sylfaera the Fair,” showcasing their evolution and artistic prowess.