Search - Eluveitie :: Spirit

Excellent Progression from Vên but Still No Slania

Anti | 03/15/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As I stated in my review of Eluvietie's first EP Vên, I have no knowledge of this band's lineup changes so I will note the changes in sound soley on the album alone.



Spirit is one of those albums where you can really hear positive and quality change from a previous release. Everything on this album is much better than on Vên and you can definatley see that Eluvietie has found their sound!



On this release the folk elements actually fit right into the music without sounding misplaced or gimmicky. It actually sounds like there is a full celtic folk band rather than a single instrument playing along. The folk "portion" of the band plays what could probably be standalone songs this time around, weaved very well (not quite Slania quality) into the "metal portion" of the band.



A complaint of mine for the last EP was how the death metal style drumming felt too fast for the music - much of that is corrected, the drums now keep an excellent and more tame beat for the songs. This doesn't mean that the old style is forgotten as they make a thunderous appearance on tracks like "The Song of Life" and the later half of "Siraxta" among others.



Vocally this album is leagues above Vên. The singer now has a higher pitched death growl which has good control and texture while still maintaining the emotion found on the first EP. He does however occassionaly seem to weave his old style into the background - I am not sure if this is to vary his deleivery or maybe it's a new singer with the old one doing guest vox. Either way it sounds much better this time around. Female vocals are also used on certain songs on Spirit which work really well to contrast the more "BRU" vocals. She is a capable singer and adds good dimension and atmosphere. I do wish that the male vocals were turned up a little more as they become drowned out occassionally by the music; intentionally or not.



The production is still a bit raw, which I find to be very good this time around. There isn't alot of polish but just enough to make you feel like you are hearing a more refined album/band. Good work on this part.



This is a definate recommendation from me, everything has a very epic feel without losing edge. BUT if you can only purchase one album from Eluveitie, then you may want to make it 2008's Slania, as it is what I beleive is a master work.



"

The "Jester Race" of the Celtic Metal Scene.

Jay Requard | Apex, North Carolina | 12/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When it comes to Melodic Death Metal, I would like to think of myself as a connoisseur of the finest. However, when Melodeath is combined with Celtic instruments, you either have one of three things:



A) A huge mess that nobody seems to like

B) another folk-metal album that gets lost among the plethora of albums in the genre that is quickly exploding.

C) A masterful work that redefines the boundaries of metal, something so unique and powerful that it becomes not only a seminal album, it has the ability to become legendary.



I believe that Spirit falls into "C". It is Melodeath Metal at its very core, but it is expertly blended with Celtic instrumentation that requires a skill that I belief one cannot simply learn. This eight piece band is something divine to behold. In this album a listener will find catchiness, brutality, technical mastery, and an aggression blended so well with melody that is seamless.



This is the album that makes Celtic Metal so wonderful and it is from a band that has a legitimate opportunity to change the genre into something new again. This is the new "Reawakening Pride Once Lost" by Waylander, or this generation's "Imrama" by Primordial. I cannot say enough good things about this album.



What I can say is "Buy this record". You will get what I am talking about when you listen to it."