It’s all looking rather dark in the Symphonic Metal world of Eleine. Granted this Swedish band have never been renowned for their sunny disposition, but from the opening crashing down-tuned chord on “Dancing In Hell” it’s clear that we are in for a more unique twist on that generally optimistic of genres. It’s not like Eleine have ‘Gone Doom’ or anything, there’s plenty of galloping double-kick drums and soaring melodies, it’s just all done a bit more…gloomily. Kind of like Beyond The Black have been hanging round with Evergrey a bit too long maybe.
But Eleine are carving themselves their own niche here and it works – they might just be on to something. There’s not a great deal of high-end lead-work in evidence as the guitars prefer to stay at the bottom end with the bass, so the melodies mainly tend to come via the vocals and the well-placed orchestration. It’s the guitars that emphatically drive the songs forward rather than the orchestration which is a really good thing, giving vocalist Madeleine Liljestam plenty of room and free reign to explore less obvious vocal lines – which she embraces with utter confidence and assuredness. Even the orchestration has a hint of the sinister to it rather than the usual epic symphonia, plus sprinkle in occasional low growled harsh male vocals as they do and fans of bands like Edenbridge will be running for the hills!
Eleine’s approach to Symphonic Metal has an almost remoulding of Gothic Metal to it, but without the cliches and misery shackles that often comes with that genre. There’s also an Eastern European approach to Symphonic Metal in evidence here, but given a Swedish polish and tenacity that the Swedes seem to be so good at. The songs vary well in tempo, never becoming predictable and keeping the listener’s interest by continuing to explore those darker melodies and moods. There is so much to grasp onto and enjoy about this album as it pushes the Symphonic Metal envelope into lesser explored territories – and it does it all so damn well! By the end of it all I’m left feeling this album was really refreshing rather than overtly morose or melancholy, because the energy, passion and ingenuity the band displays throughout is so totally engrossing.
(8/10 Andy Barker)
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