The Guildmaster – Gathering of Souls (Seacrest Oy – SCR-1047, 2025)
With Gathering of Souls, their third release on Seacrest Oy, The Guildmaster delivers its most assured and unified work to date, a splendid combination of medieval modes, pan-European folk idioms, and symphonic progressive rock. While the band’s origins lie in the orbit of The Samurai of Prog, this multinational ensemble has carved out a distinct identity, one rooted in original compositions and a shared reverence for historical sounds reimagined through a modern lens.
The core quartet, Spanish multi-instrumentalist and folk music luminary Rafael Pacha, Finnish drummer Kimmo Pörsti, Italian bassist Marco Bernard (based in Finland), and versatile Italian keyboardist Alessandro Di Benedetti, bring an uncommon level of craftsmanship to this 64-minute suite. Building on the thematic ambitions of 2022’s Liber de Dictis, the new album refines their aesthetic into a seamless interplay between folkloric authenticity and symphonic excellence.
Pacha, in particular, anchors the album’s character. His command of traditional and Early Music instruments, from crumhorns and nyckelharpa to bouzouki and electric violin, imbues the music with a sense of historical depth. Yet it’s his guitar work that provides the emotional through line: at times echoing the pastoral elegance of Mike Oldfield, the finesse of Steve Hackett, the spacious phrasing of David Gilmour, or the lyrical vitality of Roine Stolt. He shifts effortlessly from Celtic-infused melodies to fiery Spanish passages, then ascends into the soaring heights of symphonic rock with clarity and grace.
The album opens with Pörsti’s “The Crusade of Earl Birger,” a lively instrumental inspired by 13th-century Finnish history. Its intricate arrangement sets the tone, but the centerpiece is Pacha’s ten-minute “Where Are You?”, an expansive, Oldfield-tinged lament featuring wordless vocals by Paula Pörsti. With its Celtic overtones, layered instrumentation, virtuosic electric guitar and synths, and dramatic arc, it is certainly a highlight of the group’s catalog.
“Omnis saltat ad solem”(Solar Dance) is a delightful instrumental with a brilliant mixture of electric and acoustic folk instruments. In short, lively European folk meets Celtic and Andalusian rock.
Di Benedetti contributes “Blood and Oblivion,” the album’s emotional apex. Featuring RPWL’s Yogi Lang warm vocals, the 12-minute track builds from sparse piano and evocative flute to full symphonic sweep, incorporating breathtaking guitar inspired by Pat Metheny and David Gilmour, gorgeous choruses, synth flourishes and Genesis-inspired arrangements. Its lyrical theme evokes inner conflict and redemption.
Elsewhere, the mood shifts subtly. “Lo Prometido es Deuda” (As Promised) returns to a meditative folk and Early music space, led by dulcimer and viola da gamba.
“Mary the Jewess,” features the gritty, engaging vocals of Spain-based British lyricist Nick Markham and outstanding electric guitar work. It explores proto-scientific themes through a Genesis and Camel-inspired arrangement.
“Luonto Puhuu” (Nature Speaks) turns toward Finland, with vocals in Finnish by Paula Pörsti, inventive drumming by Kimmo Pörsti, glorious Mellotron and synths by Alessandro Di Benedetti, Chapman Stick contributions from guest Alfonso Romero, and memorable guitar work by Pacha.
Finally, “Sea and Sky” offers an epic closing statement, featuring vocals by John Wilkinson (Ellsmere, The Swan Chorus and Random Option), flute by Giovanni Mazzotti, and a final guitar solo by Tony Riveryman (Toni Jokinen).
As with previous Guildmaster releases, the production, led by Bernard, Di Benedetti, Pacha, and Pörsti, is polished and immersive. Ed Unitsky’s captivating fantasy artwork enhances the album’s sense of timeless storytelling. However, what sets Gathering of Souls apart is the compositional consistency across its eight tracks. Each member brings a distinct voice, yet the collective speaks with clarity and purpose.
Musicians: Rafael Pacha on saz, recorders, crumhorn, classical, acoustic & electric guitars, bouzouki, bodhrán, electric violin, mandolin, zither, keyboards, hulusi, cuatro, viola da gamba, dulcimer, zither, percussion, whistles, violin; Alessandro Di Benedetti on keyboards, vocals; Marco Bernard on Shuker basses; and Kimmo Pörsti on drums & percussion, additional keyboards.
Guests: Paula Pörsti on vocals; Yogi Lang on vocals; Nick Markham on vocals; Giovanni Mazzotti on flute; Alfonso Romero on Chapman Stick; John Wilkinson on vocals; and Tony Riveryman on electric guitar.
Track Listing
- The Crusade of Earl Birger (5:49)
- Where Are You? (10:29)
- Omnis saltat ad solem (5:55)
- Blood and Oblivion (12:39)
- Lo Prometido es Deuda (7:11)
- Mary the Jewess (10:49)
- Luonto puhuu (5:46)
- Sea and Sky (5:36)