Folk bands rarely manage to create a truly mystical atmosphere in their songs.

But there is a band, which does this perfectly and they are not as wildly
recognized as they deserve to be. You likely heard them before, but don't even
realise it (read this article till the end to find out where).
Percival is a Polish band that plays what they describe as the new wave of polish
heavy folk. They grew out of historical reconstruction groups with the intention
of creating a perfect background for such events. Their name is taken after a
gnome created on the pages of Andrzej Sapkowskis the Witcher saga this only
adds to the bands mystique.
Apart from modern instruments, they rely on using lyras, bodhrns or gusles.
They heavily draw from Slavic paganism and culture, being positively proud of
their roots. They also open themselves to many currents of this culture.
Percivals members are: Mikoaj Rybacki, Katarzyna Bromirska, Joanna Lacher and
Christina Bogdanova.
[Percival Slava
v=N3c4H_8TM2Y ]

Gusta

mi

magla:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Gusta mi magla, or Heavy Fog Has Fallen, is a Serbian folk song, which
describes mists falling onto Kosovo in a very poetic way. You can only see a top of
a tree under which a tailor is making a brides dress is as many colours as there
are stars on the nights sky. It is a traditional wedding song, with a centuries-old
melody. Gusta mi magla was published on Slava: Pieni Sowian Poudniowych
(Slava: The Songs of Southern Slavs) album, which gathers traditional tunes
from Serbia, Bulgaria and Croatia among others.
[Percival

Slavny
Tur
/
Slava
II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVd5tAXjQ5c ]

Cherna

galochka:

Cherna galochka (Black Jackdaw) is a Russian spring song, sang by elders to

ask the forces of nature for the restoration of Earth, so that the seeding period
can begin. Lyrics talk about a bird, who's task it is to bring on its wings the keys,
symbol of power, which will be used to open the Earth. This song is on two
albums Slavny Tur Live and Slava II: Pieni Sowian Wschodnich (Slava: The
Songs of Eastern Slavs), which features traditional tunes from Russia, Ukraine,
Belarus and Poland.

Heavier folk, or Percival Schuttenbach

Percival plays also folk-pagan rock and folk-pagan metal. When they do, they use
the name Percival Schuttenbach and have an additional member, Andrzej
Mikityn.
[Percival Shuttenbach ?? Wodnik: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPVAU0XJbU ]
Wodnik (Vodnik) is a song about a knight, Mcibr, who is lured by a beautiful
and deadly Rusalka (a kind of female water demon) to the underwater halls of
Vodnik to be killed. This song features vocals of Masha Scream Archipova from
the Russian folk-pagan metal band Arkona. Wodnik is on Percival Schuttenbach's
album Svantevit.

[Percival Shuttenback ?? Gdy rozum pi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=BuxWXWZMWl8 ]
Gdy rozum pi... budz si demony, or When the mind sleeps... the demons
wake up mentions a parade of Slavic demons: Leshys, Plumards, Drowners...
They all wait for the night to make you lose your mind. This song was featured on
Reakcja Pogaska (Pagan Reaction) album.

Other works, or I heard this before

Percival collaborated with many artists during 16 years of active work. Recent
projects delivered them to a wider audience and gave them a contract with Sony
Music Poland.
[Donatan Nie lubimy robi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvKzyuL7ubQ ]
Nie lubimy robi (We don't like to do anything) by Donatan is a widely popular
song in Poland and was played in most of Europe when the artist was selected to
represent Poland on the last Eurovision song contest. The musician called the
project where he produced Slavic-themed songs Rwnonoc: Sowiaska dusza
(Equinox: Slavic soul). Donatan's playful use of Slavic culture and imagery even
provoked the BBC to run a short piece on one of his songs. Percival sings and
plays parts of the songs from the first album of Rwnonoc. The music video has
English subtitles.
[Witcher 3 trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtVdAasjOgU ]
Percival had a great part in creating the soundtrack for the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
A lot of their repertoire was used, as well as some new creations. This is the most
likely way you heard Percival, but don't know about it. This trailer contains
fragments of Sysz (I hear) and Sargon, both from Oj Dido album. This is a
fitting job for Percival, as Andrzej Sapkowski, the author of the Witcher saga, was
heavily influenced by Slavic mythology, putting many creatures and legends of
this origin into his books. The band itself was influenced by Sapkowki's books and
produced songs and artwork about the books.
As you can see, Percival's members are very talented people who work with a
fiery passion of music and myth. They deserve recognition and appreciation.