| Eluveitie - Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion |
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A band for people who like their metal moody, mysterious, and acoustic Whoa, whoa wait a minute. Acoustic metal?Yes, acoustic metal. The Gallic folk metal band Eluveitie has taken an abrupt 190 degree turn from their last album and recorded this one solely in Gallic and almost completely on acoustic old-timey instruments. They’ve also eschewed their primary vocalist in favor of their hurdy gurdy player, Anna Murphy, whose voice definitely seems a better fit with these more folksy ballads. Of course Chrigel Glanzmann is still there to offer a growl or two, but for the most part he takes a backseat and instead lets his instruments do the talking for him. This seems like a pretty strange thing to do after the success of last years Slania, but amazingly everything on Evocation meshes just as well. Most songs are straight up folk melodies that abruptly burst with metal flair as if to remind you just who you're listening to. Especially prominent in this particular area is the title track “Evocation” that features a jaunty, sea shanty-like tune with the sing-chant melodies of Anna Murphy winding in and out of it. And if you’re in the mood for spooky druidic chanting then look no further than “Nata.” This creepy, almost Gregorian song somehow manages to build the tension as the track progresses despite the almost steady monotone accordion fuzz that serves as the song’s backbone. Ok yes, it’s a strange concept to call something acoustic metal. The name alone clashes on so many levels, yet somehow Eluveitie makes it work. The songs are moody and tense yet still pack the same punch as any traditional metal band. If you’re looking for something new and strange then look no further than Eluveitie. Final Verdict: 4.5/5 Song to Download: Dessumiis Luge – imagine all your old girlfriends standing around an altar with a doll version of you resting on it. This is the song they’d be singing right before they drive a stake through the doll’s/your heart |
