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Rating: (beware, I will write quite a bit about this album... mostly about philosophical mental wankery)
I start by saying that in 1993 I see a ranking similar to this:
"Focus"
"Elements"
"ITP" (abbreviated "individual thought patterns")
"Spheres"
Then I also tell you that for me these albums are almost on the same level and that in the end, there is very little difference between one position and another in the ranking... then I also say that all these albums are around 7, some a cent more, some a cent less
Now I start
Always keep in mind the setlist (without the mini-instrumentals):
-"Green"
-"Water"
-"Air"
-"Animal"
-"Mineral"
-"Fire"
-"Earth"
-"Elements"
I begin by saying that along with "Focus" it is the album where I feel more "jazz" influences. The guitar, unlike its predecessors, relies much less on repeated picking and a bit more on "Symbolic" style riffs. I don’t know if I conveyed the idea... the voice has changed a bit, in fact you can hear two voices, and above all, the voice is much more embodied, giving me much less the idea of "Reign In Bloom"... however, the drums haven't changed much even though I notice tiny improvements, like lightening the pieces while maintaining a certain level of complexity... the bass, finally, is practically another thing, it's all plucked and if I have to describe it with an adjective, it would be "deadly" and it's inspired more by the high rather than the low (if you really want to know, the only album with such a raw bass is "Energetic Disassembly" by Watchtower).
One thing to its disadvantage is the number of songs, there are indeed 12... with 4 almost senseless small instrumentals... I can understand a "Samba Briza" or a "See You Again", but "Fractal Point" and "Displacement" I just don’t get since they don’t evoke anything compared to the other two,... bha!!!!
Then if we look at the times they have improved a lot, ranging from a minimum of 44 seconds to a maximum of 5 and a half minutes... let's say it's much more varied compared to its predecessors.
The songs I consider "serious" are "Animal", "Mineral", "Fire", "Earth", and "Elements"... although for most of them I haven’t evaluated the technicality or the song, but what it evoked in me listening to it, obviously thinking about the corresponding element... finally, among the 4 mini-instrumentals "Samba Briza" excites me quite a bit (and how could it not...) and "See You Again" which has a truly moving melody.
Then if we really look at the structure of each song it’s very difficult for me, but I can identify a couple:
"Green": has (very strangely) a simple verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-chorus structure in which the solo occupies like 1/4 of the song; "Water": has a verse-chorus-verse-solo-verse-chorus structure (quite symmetrical) in which the solo occupies 2/4 of the song creating a kind of gap in the song (just like in a lake or an ocean full of water, coincidentally); "Air": has a structure like intro-verse-verse-solo-verse-verse-ending quite symmetrical in which the end returns to the theme of the beginning; "Animal": verse-verse-chorus-solo-verse-verse-chorus in which the solo is relatively short and between the first and second verse instead of the natural chorus there is a piece that replaces it; "Mineral": verse-verse-chorus-solo-verse-verse-chorus in which between the first and second verse there is a small solo that reappears in the second part of the song, then the chorus and the solo are completely linked and finally the last chorus reconnects to the theme of the initial chorus (or solo, seeing that they are linked) emphasizing even more the solo; "Fire": intro-verse-chorus-solo-verse-chorus-ending in which the finale coincides with the rhythm of the chorus but with greater rhythm; "Earth": intro-verse-solo-verse-solo-verse-solo-verse-solo-verse-solo-verse-solo-verse-solo-ending in which there are no choruses but repeated simple verses, also the song begins just as it ended; "Elements": verse-chorus-solo verse-chorus-solo verse-chorus-solo in which a small structure is repeated three times, also every chorus is accompanied by a small solo (which I really like);
(to do this I had to listen to each piece very slowly)
if I really have to make a ranking:
1-"Mineral"
2-"Fire"
3-"Elements"
4-"Earth"
5-"Animal"
6-"Air"
7-"Water"
8-"Green"
I leave the mini-instrumentals aside...
I
n conclusion, I give this album a 7 (as I already told you) not so much for all the solos or the rhythms (in fact... if it were for that it would have received a grade like 6+) but for entirely different reasons (of a philosophical nature) that revolve around these blessed elements.
In fact, even if you don’t read the lyrics of the songs, it is quite easy to deduce what they are about... ELEMENTS!!!
That is:
-"green"
-"water"
-"air"
-"animal"
-"mineral"
-"fire"
-"earth"
(then there is "Element" which in my opinion is a sort of moral of the story).
In fact, I was very struck and interested by these blessed elements... but many doubts arise for me:
- first of all, they are not all true elements, in fact there are "green" and "animal" which I don’t really see too well... but there is no problem... in fact, they are (for me) a bit more abstract elements where "green" stands for "nature" and "animal" stands indeed for "animal" force.
- then there is also "earth" which I haven’t quite understood.. first of all, I wondered why to include an "earth" if there is already "mineral" which partially encompasses it... in fact, in the end, I came to the conclusion that "earth" meant the planet "earth" (confirmed in the dictionary: "earth" means both "earth" and "planet earth." for the latter in English it is predominantly said "world", but "earth" is also fine) and not that brown stuff that farmers dig... one factor that makes it clear is the hiss heard at the beginning and the end of the song, which I interpreted as a kind of "zoom" in reverse (practically a moving away) from all that rubbish that was created with the union of all those elements... but it doesn’t work very well because if we see things from a chronological point of view it doesn’t work:
1- nature is created (trees, etc.); Already this doesn’t work since nature would be dead without "water", "air", and "mineral"; Then I tried to see things the opposite way starting from "earth" and getting to "green":
1- the "fire" is created; but already here I can stop since "fire" cannot exist without the "air".
And at this point I stopped thinking that I was giving myself too many mental wankeries...
Instead recently another theory dropped into my head... without considering the chronological order I tried to group them: since "elements" and "earth" are excluded (because they come after the union of all the elements) I tried to group these blessed elements: since the only abstract elements were "green" and "animal" and considering that to each of these elements follow two other elements, I saw the whole affair this way: first group: "nature" with its subgroups "water" and "air"; second group: "animal" with its subgroups "mineral" and "fire"; if you look at it this way things make enough sense.... in fact, I imagine "nature" as a peaceful and silent force just like its sub-elements, while "animal" I imagine it as a brute and primordial force like in this case as well as its sub-elements, and not only... let's compare the sub-elements of each group, you have a curious symmetry:
water fire
air mineral
Practically the sub-elements are completely opposite: "water" against "fire" and "air" against "mineral"...
At that point I said to myself "WOW Daniele, you made it!!!" but then I immediately realized that in all these reasonings I hadn’t included the semi-instrumentals and that therefore in the first group the "AIR" was being divided... too bad, but I think that in the end there is no secret behind these "elements"...
Anyway, I can tell you that the serious songs are precisely those in which I can perfectly see the element:
in "Air" it is understood by the guitar at the beginning and by the voice when it unleashes;
in "Mineral" it is perfectly clear from the rhythm underneath the verse: all swept in a zigzag;
at "Animal" it is understood from the drum roll at the beginning and from the dark chorus... a truly animal chorus;
"Earth" as I already told you I imagine it as planet earth and therefore the two whistles at the beginning and end are getting closer or moving away from earth;
In "Fire" (especially because it is the one that excites me the most to listen to) it's understood from almost 80% of the song, it's hard to explain, but just listen to it imagining this primordial flame in nothingness; it's
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but every "atheist" album always begins with the bass
And at each ending they do something different
In "Pice Of Time" a nice "No Truth" whispered in a low voice followed by an irrepressible last round
In "Unquestionable Presence" it ends with a luxurious "GOOONG" Japanese style
And in "Elements" with a fade-out that most "technical death metal" albums like "Focus", "ITP", "Symbolic", and "The Sound Of Perseverance" will later pick up...
Concluding, I really liked "Elements"... because basically the best albums are the ones that make you think or do mental wankeries as happened to me...
Sorry for the heaviness but I would have written this reasoning sooner or later.
Maybe a bit too long but I don’t care as much the max is 1800... I barely reached 1520.
I hope you like my review.
By LUGREZZO
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Green (03:22)
Suddenly all turns to green!!
(whisper) and the forest cracks a smile
*a seed conceals an important part
Of the way we see, the world as it ought to be
*plants and trees, initiate the air we breathe
And give us more than they receive
*often times, rooting their stability
The way that they ought to be
But sometimes cut down!
*in recent years, the peace upon the greenery
Has fallen to machinery
*tree sap tears, dried upon the slaughtered bark
Yes man has really made his mark
It's plain to see, the land as it used to be
Is gone for eternity
The cypress cries loud!!
Beauty bears the colour green!!
02 Water (04:28)
Like the arrival of the purest form of life
It sets its course to remain just that
If not for the blatant disregard for its purity
It would never uncover the anger
*stormlit, aqua*
The crest of the waters reveal a
Sign of friendship with the moon
Embracing each other with the
Tides and currents that flow, throughout
The spaces meant for it to be!
*"reaching, to hold onto, the liquid, rain"*
The perspiration on a sweating soul tells
The body what is known
The the water reveals the human effort
It tends to exceed its own demand
By taking the world by the hand
*stormlit, aqua*
(reaching to hold onto the liquid rain)
03 Samba Briza (01:58)
Like the arrival of the purest from of life
It sets its course to remain just that
If not for the blatant disregard for its purity
It would never uncover the anger
Stormlit, Aqua
The crest of the waves reveal a
Sign of friendship with the moon
Embracing each other with the
Tides and currents that flow, throughout
The spaces meant for it to be!
"Reaching, to hold onto, the liquid, rain"
The perspiration on a sweating soul tells
The body what is known
The the water reveals the human effort
It tends to exceed its own demand
By taking the world by the hand
Stormlit, Aqua
(Reaching to hold onto the liquid reain)
04 Air (05:34)
The air stirs up the galaxy
Be!!!.......
The crosswinds of forever become me
And place me on the porch of the breeze
Without my sounds would be silent
No gullible gust through the trees
Carrying seasons to bring us
The atmosphere we all can enjoy and we destroy
The blur on the horizon disturbs me
It casts a disguise on the sun
In the end it's the wind that will weaken
And the human goes from billions to none
The wind will regain all its motion
And clear the air for the following to ...(breathe)
(spoken) the breeze of; a new generation
Moving clouds, from everywhere
Sensing a rainy stare
Smelling the moisture in the air
In the air.
The weather can be deemed as deceiving
To predict the unpredictability
The passion that it feels for the ocean
Air and water sharing laughter
A bond between two forges of nature
All to live and breathe
The breeze of a new generation
Breathe
The breeze of a new generation.
05 Displacement (01:25)
The air stirs up the galaxy!
Be!!!.........
The crosswinds of forever become me and place me on
The porch of the breeze
Without my sounds would be silent
No gullible gusts through the trees
Carrying seasons to bring us
The atmosphere we all can enjoy and we destroy
The blur on the horizon disturbs me
It casts a disguise on the sun
In the end it's the wind that will weaken
And the human goes from billions to none
The wind will regain all its motion
And clear the air for the following to...(breathe)
(spoken) The breeze of; a new creation
Moving clouds, from everywhere
Sensing a rainy stare
Smelling the moisture in the air
In the air.
The weather can be deemed as deceiving
To predict the unpredictability
The passion that it peels for the ocean
Air and water sharing laughter
A bond between two forces of nature
All to live and breathe
The breeze of a new creation
Breathe
The breeze of a new creation.
07 Mineral (04:33)
Leave us alone, we never harmed you
Leave us alone, we beg of you
How could you be, so unforgiving
Without it you see, you won't be living
To see the creator
Compiled of mineral; sea
If given a voice, we'd lash out at you
If given a choice, we'd educate you
A blossoms remorse, could never shine through
The need it attracts, when you're given
The choice of becoming what you need to be
A choice of cradling the creator of mineral and sea
The holding of the bones, of the treasured
Allows us to peel, somewhat insightful
Of course it should be with due respect
For after all, we are all mineral!
Leave us alone, we never harmed you (Leave us alone - [2X])
Leave us alone, we beg of you (Leave us alone - [2X])
How could you be, so unforgiving (Leave us alone - [2X])
Without it you see, you won't be living (Leave us alone - [2X])
To see the creator
Compiled of mineral and sea!
The choice of becoming what you need to be
The choice of cradling the creation
[spoken]
Of mineral and sea!
08 Fire (04:37)
Feeling the heat that captures
The warmth that see the chance
Imagine the stonelit contortion
Sprawling itself at a glance (anger!!)
Shadows shaded yellow
Both shredded and tapered flames
Reaching at a constant level
Rising, rising, "Combustion"!!!
The blue light at the bottom
Surely sets the stage
For the radiant dancing
If the flares of the sun
Feel them burn!!!
The heat that you feel is friction
Creating a scar that sees
An everlasting reflection
An everlasting appeal (Pain!!!)
Shadows shaded yellow
Both shredded and tapered flames
Reaching at a constant level
Rising, rising, "Combustion"!!!
The blue light at the bottom
Surely sets the stage
For the radiant dancing
If the flares of the sun
Feel them burn!!!
09 Fractal Point (00:44)
Feeling the heat that captures
The warmth that see the chance
Imagine the stonelit contortion
Sprawling itself at a glance (anger!!)
Shadows shaded yellow
Both shredded and tapered flames
Reaching at a constant level
Rising, rising, "Combustion"!!!
The blue light at the bottom
Surely sets the stage
For the radiant dancing
If the flares of the sun
Feel them burn!!!
The heat that you feel is friction
Creating a scar that sees
An everlasting reflection
An everlasting appeal (Pain!!!)
Shadows shaded yellow
Both shredded and tapered flames
Reaching at a constant level
Rising, rising, "Combustion"!!!
The blue light at the bottom
Surely sets the stage
For the radiant dancing
If the flares of the sun
Feel them burn!!!
10 Earth (03:53)
A rounded sphere of wisdom
Spinning to create the now
Upon it all will wonder who, what, where, and now
Liquid covers most of her features
Sunlight covers one side at a time
Breathers in to keep everything closer
So it's never far away from
"earth"!!! That little planet on the hill
Turning out days to guide by
Each with its own display
Some with voltage spinning from the skytop
Some with light in a peaceful way
An appearance second to no other
Such a magnificent face
So broad and full of perspective
Known to everyone as...
"earth"!!! That little planet on the hill
Seams earth could last forever
But for us it's not the same
The neglect to protect the creation
Leaves us little change remain
All in all it seems to go around in circles
Like the path followed by the moon
Enhanced by the human evolution
The wisdom of the
"earth"!!! That little planet on the hill
12 Elements (05:35)
I tip my head to the creation
And its rewarding disposition
Formed by something
Lacking nothing here
Something so divine
A spectacle of "Elements"
Enjoying all the warmth of fire
Longing for the breeze of morning air
Douse myself with the purest water
Something so divine
The spectacle of Elements
As storms approach the mineral
Bringing the nutrients for the green
They feed the lakes of our mother Earth
Sharing forces for the living
Yes the caption seems to be complete
Our gratitude lacks sincerity
We filter our pollution through the selfish
Declaration of only our independence,
Not concerned about the Elements!
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Other reviews
By The_Bassist
It’s incredible how Elements can be such a magnificent and complete work.
Along with Cynic’s Focus, Elements represents the highest point of death metal, the finest rarest, the least regarded, and the most interesting.
