|
Artist: Elvenking |
|
|
To be totally honest I hadn’t heard anything by Elvenking before this album and had little knowledge of them as a band, except for the fact I knew they'd played Bloodstock in 2002 and that they originated in Italy. Apart from that the band were a total mystery for me, but after listening to their new album 'The Scythe' I will definitely be checking this band out more thoroughly. Those who are like me and aren’t to familiar with the band Elvenking consist of Damnagoras on vocals duties, Aydan on guitar, Zender on Drums, Gorlan on bass and Elvghen on keyboards and violin. The band mix of Heavy Folk with more traditional Power Metal is just superb and a joy to listen to. The album opens in quite emphatic style with the title track ‘The Scythe’ and from this point on there is no turning back as the band unleash on the most powerful and mystical albums of the year so far, with the bone crushing drums of Zender and the streaming guitars of Aydan laying waste to all that has gone before and the tremendous vocals of Damnagoras as he switches from powerful melodies to growling tones with deadly ease. The bands penchant for bringing a heavy folk element into their sound are shown to great effect on the epic ‘Lost Hill Of Memories’, which starts off with the gypsy violin and pounding drums, then the guitars are unleashed and all three unite like some unholy alliance and take the band to a whole new level of excellence. The album's splendour continues with ‘Infection’, another heady mix of sprawling violin and thumping rhythms interwoven with some monstrous guitars, with singer Damnagoras laying down some darkened vocals to accompany this deeply dark assault. The album is taken to another level with the heavier tones of ‘Poison Tears’, this rampaging piece of Thrash/Power Metal crossover breaks the boundaries between the two genres and each is intertwined quite magnificently with the other, with the Gaelic influence mid way thru breaking the track up nicely to produce one of my favourite tracks on the album. The album returns to the bands Folk/Power Metal sound with the upbeat ‘A Riddle Of Stars’ before returning once again to the heavier stuff with the double kick drum attack of ‘Romance & Wrath’, as Aydan once again shreds the guitar like a man possessed. ‘The Divided Heart’ shows yet another string to the bands repertoire as they show their more Melodic Metal side on this one, but they still retain that element that could only be Elvenking as Damnagoras puts down his finest vocals so far. The album finally lets you get your breath with the semi instrumental ‘Totentanz’, I say semi instrumental as a narrative is interwoven into the gentle guitars and violins, then just as your reflecting on what has gone before the next track ‘Death And The Suffering’ erupts without warning and the ambiance is shattered with the fast paced guitars and menacing drums and bass. The
album closes with ‘Dominhate’, a real exuberant piece of Power Metal
with its film score vibe and differing tones as it flows from the
traditional Power Metal to a more relaxed Folk Metal vibe in the blink
of an eye and rounds off what is a great piece of individual and unique
Folk Power Metal, Great Stuff!! |
|
|
Tracklisting: |
|
|
All content copyright of The Mayfair Mall Zine unless otherwise stated. |
|