Origin: Spain
Formed: 2020
Location: Madrid, Community of Madrid
Genre: Folk / Symphonic Metal
Status: On hold (2025)
Label: Maldito Records
Runa Llena is a folk/symphonic metal band from Madrid, created in February 2020 by Carlitos and Frank after their departure from Mägo de Oz, marking one of the most notable line‑up shifts in Spanish metal of the decade. The project was conceived as a fresh creative beginning, free from the constraints of their previous band, yet still rooted in the melodic, folk‑infused DNA that had defined much of their earlier work.
The name Runa Llena pays homage to the instrumental track “Runa llena” from Mägo de Oz’s 2007 album La ciudad de los árboles, symbolizing both continuity and rebirth. The band quickly assembled a full lineup of experienced musicians from the Spanish heavy, folk, and symphonic metal scenes, forming a supergroup of sorts with members from Perfect Smile, Asfáltika, JosĂ© AndrĂ«a y UrĂłboros, and others.
Their debut single Un nuevo comienzo (2020) set the tone: uplifting melodies, folk instrumentation, symphonic arrangements, and a polished production that resonated with fans of Mägo de Oz, Avalanch, and Saurom. Throughout 2021 they released a series of singles—Océanos de soledad, Keltoi, and Mi universo—each expanding their sonic palette with Celtic influences, orchestral layers, and emotional vocal performances.
In 2022, the band released Nunca apagarán tu luz, a tribute‑style single with a more intimate tone, followed by their first full‑length album Aon (2022). The album showcased their full artistic identity: epic symphonic arrangements, folk melodies led by violin and flute, dual guitar harmonies, and lyrics exploring introspection, mythology, and emotional resilience. Aon was well‑received within the Spanish metal community and solidified Runa Llena as a serious, independent creative force rather than a mere continuation of past projects.
After 2022, the band’s activity slowed, and by 2025 they entered an on‑hold status, with no official disbandment announced. Their legacy so far is a brief but impactful chapter in modern Spanish folk/symphonic metal, marked by strong musicianship and a heartfelt desire to create something new after a major artistic transition.
Past (Live)