Band: Eluveitie
Title: Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion
Label: Nuclear Blast
Distribution: PIAS
Release date: 17/07/2009
Review: CD

I don’t exaggerate if I state that Eluveitie are one of the most important bands from Swiss nowadays. There might not be that many (international) well-known bands from Suisse, that may be correct, yet again it is a country with a passionate history within folkloristic music as well as epic Rock and Metal. Eluveitie are one of those bands that have succeeded to create the sometimes painful missing link between both genres.
In mean time the band supported bands as Kreator and Kataklysm and performed on Heidenfest and both the European and American edition of Paganfest.
Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion however is a new step within the band’s history. Not only the band underwent a (minor) line-up change (amongst which the recruitment of new bass player Kay Brem, formerly in Cataract). The album is less Metal-oriented this time. The fifteen tracks vary a lot, yet one thing is clear: this album is Eluveitie’s purest and most honest recording to date. The influential range is wide: shamanistic and emotional Folk-chants, catchy and pumping rockers, traditional hymns, Celtic and Helvetic elements, etc. Several pieces are (semi-) acoustic, a few times bringing my thoughts to The Third And The Mortal; some are heavier, in the vein of last year’s album Slania (Eluveitie’s Nuclear Blast-debut); some sound catchy and upwhipping, while others pieces bring esoteric or integer moments with an atmosphere that combines the deepest emotions of certain, and beware: Sui Generis Umbra, Dead Can Dance / Lisa Gerrard, Laïs or The Moon Lay Hidden Beneath A Cloud-jewels (like my favourite track: the mesmerizing hymn Dessumiis Luge). A few songs are instrumental, and all of them contain traditional instruments, like violin, hurdy-gurdy and whistle. Most vocals, with lyrics mainly written in ancient Gaulish, are done by Anna Murphy, who has a rather unique and strong, warm voice, backed-up by some grunts, shouts and chants.
The variation is surprising - every song is different - and the same, being surprising, goes for the more integer and introvert musical approach. At the same time the sometimes unique compositions, the nice use of the traditional instruments and vocal appearance (which can be a real pain in the ass-syndrome lately within the ‘Folk’ (Metal) scene), the splendid sound and the darkened emotionality make this album a must for fans of Folk, Neo-Folk, Pagan Metal and epic Rock.

87/100

Ivan Tibos.