Eluveitie, Origins

Origins – Oh that accent and the story-like voice! It’s a great way to start the album, as it prepares you for an epic journey. And considering these very high expectations are met, I have to say I am extremely satisfied with this album.

The nameless – Aaaaand then the headbanging starts. There’s something interesting about this band, even though the songs sound a lot alike and follow the same style for the most part, they are so melodic and effective that I cannot get enough of them and no matter how much I listen to them, they don’t become boring or repetitive. I particularly love how they resume the theme from the intro in a way that is pure Eluveitie

From darkness – the best part about this band is by far the instrumental and this song showcases it perfectly. That combination of flute, hurdy gurdy, violin, drums and bass is to die for! And I’m not ashamed with Chrigel and Anna either, in fact Chrigel has the rare quality of being almost completely understandable while grunting. I also like that while they keep the essence pretty much the same, they keep adding gimmicks so that you don’t get bored (gimmicks that eventually turn into the norm over time). First there were Anna’s vocals (a while ago), now there are the background choirs that are present throughout most of the album… And of course the initial introduction of the hurdy gurdy that was the best innovation in this genre.

Celtos – Probably my favourite song from this album. I love Anna’s accent, the print she puts on music, the way she mixes perfectly with Chrigel… she’s great for this genre, there’s something very simple and authentic in her voice and she perfectly brings the story to life. It’s a very catchy song, with a chorus that gets stuck in your head for days and I also enjoy very much how they have a red wire that crosses the song and they keep adding and building on top of it. And, of course, there’s that gorgeous Celtic instrumental I could never get enough of.

Virunus – I don’t know if I’m too big of a sucker for Irish music or if they do it really really well, but each Eluveitie song makes me ecstatic about the instrumental. I feel like I’m in a story and the energy and power added by the grunts make the perfect combination, especially with that sweet jolly flute in the background.

Nothing – Oh that accent again! I’m not a great fan of using spoken word in music, but these interludes create such an epic atmosphere, I cannot find any fault in them.

The call of the mountains – This song gave me quite a scare, being the first single of the album. Anna is great and adding her vocals was one of their best decisions, but a track sung solely by her, especially in such a cheesy and redundant way is not what I want from Eluveitie. It reminds me very much of A rose for Epona, only it’s less catchy and more annoying. The cheese is just unbearable and if I hear “the call of the mountains” one more time I swear I’m going to hurt someone. And oh God, there’s even a modulation…. it’s official: the cheese has reached unacceptable levels.

Sucellos – What an infectious beginning to make up for the previous song! I absolutely adore that flute, I think they could give up everything else and just keep the flute and I would still love this band. That force and epicness after the bridge are just awesome, who would’ve thought that a flute&violin solo can sound so freaking badass?

Inception – A more aggressive and straightforward song, with less Celtic instrumentals and more Cradle of Filth influences, but a very good song, nonetheless. It’s fascinating how the instrumental keeps growing on top of the speaking, then adding the choir and finally there’s the drum carnage!

Vianna – Another Anna-oriented song, but this time with more power and less cheese. The number of times she repeats the title of the song is still highly irritating, but the song is cute and catchy and it reminds me a bit of Evocation, so overall it’s ok.

The silver sister – This is one of the weaker tracks, in my opinion. It’s a generic melodic death song for the most part and only at the end am I reminded it’s Eluveitie I’m listening to, but by that time it’s already too late.

King – As the second single, this thankfully attenuated the scare that Call of the mountains gave me. I like the slow and powerful approach in the first part and the way the fast instrumental emerges to change the pace and give it a kick. I also love Anna in the background, she is so much more valuable used as just a touch of melody instead of being the main vocalist.

The day of strife – I’m delighted with that beginning, it’s so freaking epic! Awesome song, it’s a complete craziness that grabs you and doesn’t let go and it’s basically everything I love about Eluveitie. Infectious, simply infectious.

Ogmios – After praising them for their interludes, I have to say this one seems a bit out of place and doesn’t have that captivating feel of the previous ones

Carry the torch – Yey, another catchy headbanger! I love the violin line and the chorus in the background and since the guitar doesn’t get too much attention in Eluveitie, with the folk instruments being the focus, it’s nice to hear a guitar solo from time to time.

Eternity – moving lyrics, gorgeous instrumental, uplifting feeling…. it’s so pretty! It sounds straight out of a movie and the instrumental simply gives me the chills.