There’s this game everyone can play: What music do various fantasy/folklore races listen to? Nasty Hobittses? Folk music. Maybe a bit of Korpiklaani. Giants? True doom, bit of sludge doom. Orcs? Black and death exclusively. Dwarves? Metal metal metal heavy fucking METAL. The egocentric hero probably listens to Rhapsody Of Fire while brushing his hair. The wizard listens to Hawkwind. Which leaves Elves. Poxy pointy eared gits twiddling with endless madrigals and prog rock. Or maybe according to Elvenking, Sonata Arctica…
Despite having a dollop of folk metal in the packaging, long standing Italians Elvenking with their galloping drums, scampering and soaring keyboards, beautifully melodic guitars and vocals are very much at that end of the power metal spectrum but maybe with a little more lead shot in their hems. Despite the fantasy lyrics they also sail very close to early late 70s/80s US/Canadian melodic rock too (honestly, most of ‘Twilight Of Magic’ could have fitted in to a New England album even if the band have probably never heard of them) which at least is different.
If you’re already curled tight into a cheese allergy ball then the door is over there. It is an acquired taste I know. For those of us still with a little of the romantic left in our cynical hearts, there is some lovely light but truly heartfelt music here. This is not a money manager, this is artists doing what they love.
They open with obligatory intro, then really test the stamina with the twelve minute epic of ‘King Of The Elves’. This is OK as epics go with differing tempos and passages and immediately showcases vocals which can croon, soar and add a little edge to the proceedings. Really if you get past this one, onto the shorter and more immediate tracks you’re probably here for the duration. Even in the more folk moments though, as soon as those massed vocals and hugely melodic vocals take over the shadow of Sonata Arctica looms large. The thing is though is that it’s not as excessive as SA and really there is such a sense of joy here being hyper-critical is a bit like kitten kicking: Cruel and unnecessary and reflecting more on you than then band.
In honesty the shorter verse/refrain songs work best for me and stuff like Elvenlegions should be fun live (though I can’t help wondering if their fans some decked out in plastic pointy ears – which really would make me look like a fucking goblin, I should add.) The folk/pagan element is pretty high here amidst the SA keyboard attack, with violin and keyboard/pipe sound used particularly on intros and songs like ‘The Druid Ritual Of Oak’ which is probably one of my least favourite songs along with ‘Witches Gather’.
Enough of the bad stuff though. Instead try the gloriously rousing ‘Pagan Revolution’ which is a great fiddle jig with such a joie de vivre and more bounce than a puppy on a trampoline, or the more sedate but emotional call out of ‘The Solitaire’. ‘Black Roses For The Wicked One’ has the kind of chorus that Nightwish used to come up with and I swear to the Goddess it genuinely gave me chills. See? Put all that “I’m too cool for this.. ” embarrassment aside and there is a fine band here.
This is their eighth full length since 2001 and to be frank that experience and commitment shows here. Get Sonata Arctica drunk with a little Nightwish playing in the background, give them a fiddle and tell them they’re elves and off you go. Power, folk, symphonic fans all may find something of interest here.
There are times we all need something that just makes you smile along with them, and this time, this moment Elvenking did it for me.
Thank you.
By the way, half elves listen to… ?
(8/10 Gizmo)
https://www.facebook.com/elvenking.official
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