| CD REVIEW Leaves’ Eyes |
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Band: Leaves’ Eyes The European band Leaves’ Eyes consists of well-experienced members who are involved with bands as Atrocity. Vocalist Liv Kristine was in Theatre Of Tragedy and co-operated with bands as Cradle Of Filth, Weltenbrand, Umbra Et Imago, Silke Bischoff or Delain, to name but a few, and Alexander Krull also works / worked as producer with bands as Weltenbrand, Midnattsoll, Crematory, Morgenstern or Catamenia.
As from the beginning, Leaves’ Eyes have gained a huge fan base all over the world. All former recordings were hailed and honoured, and the band’s live performances strengthened their success. Njord won’t disappoint. The album merely goes on in the vein of all former material. The conceptual album combines catchy Metal with Folk and Rock elements, and even though the whole can’t be considered renewing, it isn’t overpowered with clichés - at least not whole the time. Yes, besides Liv Kristine’s strong operatic vocals (sung in eight different languages, by the way) you have the ‘necessary’ grunts, some tracks do have a subtle hit-potential, there are the obvious melodic guitar solos and atmospheric keyboard support, and heavier pieces interact with ballads and semi-acoustic parts. The harmonious equilibrium of both a natural and gothic approach goes well with the concept of epic and mythological (hi)stories, dealing with Scandinavian, Celtic and related themes, and emotions go hand in hand with a subtle cultural depth. The whole does sound rather bombastic and symphonic, going for both heavier parts and intimate ones, yet without turning the whole into exaggerated pulp or nonsense. 81/100 Ivan Tibos. |