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Rating: Another folk metal EP with Celtic overtones? No, absolutely not, there's much more here. They come from Switzerland, fresh with a contract with Nuclear Blast, and their name is Eluveitie, a band composed of no less than 11 members all playing a variety of instruments, from the classic metal ones (guitar, bass, and drums) to those typical of the Celtic tradition, such as the Uilleann (a sort of bagpipe powered by a "flute"), the Bodhrán (a sort of tambourine also typical of the Irish tradition), and also Irish flute and more classical instruments like violins and violas.
Musically "Vên", this is the title of the EP, presents itself as a mix of folk metal where bursts of black metal with continuous hints of death appear (stronger in the subsequent album "Spirit"), all seasoned with a continuous melodic search that makes the music proposed by these eleven rascals even more enjoyable. Vocally, we are faced with an album that offers an alternation between semi-clean parts, where Chrigel Glanzmann delivers an interpretation that leans towards areas typical of thrash metal, and others closer to the death tradition, with angry growls of great effect.
Starting with "D´Vêritû Agâge D´Bitu", Eluveitie proves capable of crafting melodies balanced between the dreamy and the calm and the typical violence of these folk formations, but it is by continuing that we find the best tracks, which go by the names "Uis Elveti", a piece particularly sunlit melodically, with flutes as the true protagonists of the track that, along with bagpipes, tear through the mostly metal base, supporting Chrigel, who delivers a good performance, although due to a less than perfect recording, the low volume of the voice loses some points in an otherwise good song. Beautiful " Orò", an instrumental with horn and bagpipe, that brings the mind to the great green expanses of Ireland. The "solo" of the bagpipe is moving, extremely touching thanks to its decidedly sad hints. The ending changes tones, eventually leading to the best composition of the entire work, "Lament", a particularly measured piece where all the musical influences characterizing the band merge perfectly: black outbursts alternate with parts closer to death, all surrounded by Celtic atmospheres in perfect harmony.
The six minutes of "Druid" are superfluous, a rather chaotic piece, lacking musical solidity and thus often leading to chaos, proving that there's still a way to go to achieve complete musical maturity. The album closes with the instrumental ballad "Jêzaïg", also possessing a particularly sad mood.
In general, the product is truly of good quality, albeit with some slight style lapses mainly due to a lack of experience. Highly recommended listening to anyone wishing to rediscover the traditions of north-central Europe.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 D'Vêritû Agâge d'Bitu (02:29)
Dro, o Dêvo, tovo anextlo,
Cue ir anextlo, nertos,
Cue ir nertos, Skyans,
Cue ir Skyans, Gothvos,
Cue is Gothvos, Gothvos ar vêriânjâ,
Cue is Gothvos ar vêriânjâ, y Garo
Cue ir Garo, grâto oljo Bewnans,
Cue in grâto oljo Bewnans, Garo Dêvo:
Dêvo cue ollo Dade.
02 Uis Elveti (04:12)
ELVETIEEE!!!!
Ûro si tovo keitone, o brgant tovo bârgo
Toge si se met snibi, stâj si borso anda
Cuonos bê tû sê - immi spakto...
Cuonos bê tû sê - vo tovo vidâ
Venô ap tovo albeis, venô ap de bejos
Venô ap oljo trâno, cu tov' oljo aunio
Cuonos bê tû sê - immi spakto...
Cuonos bê tû sê - vo tovo vidâ
Vegro, abonâ, o aqâ, magos, melb o nanto
Reipatro o tovo bivûed panavo
Cuonos bê tû sê - immi spakto...
Cuonos bê tû sê - vo tovo vidâ
Karaô tû teko têrsos
Kanô ois uis an dêvo
So bâdo het er ti sê
Imon koimo elvetie
04 Lament (03:33)
I wonder what we have become...
A land so full of riches bought with blood!
A land so free, yet chasing for wind....
As we look up to false giant emperors
We've lost our pride of old, the innocence is gone!
Clan of Elveti
Weep for your land
....and your children!
What if we'd still be proud and simple minded?
What if there would not be so much blood on our invisible hands?
What if there would not be billions to feed the lusts of war?
What if not all these subtle hidden injustices?
What if there would not be a state church
Built upon hypocrisy, instead of faith?
What if we'd still be a simple clan of nature
With all its frailties but with some knowledge of righteousness?
05 Druid (06:18)
Mysteries of life, mysteries of death
Mysteries of mountain and forest, mysteries of nature
Mysteries of the sky, mysteries of the earth
Mysteries of dreams, mysteries of love
Mysteries of the soul, mysteries of mankind
Mysteries of thoughts, mysteries of words
Mysteries of pains, mysteries of healings
Mysteries of answers, mysteries of mysteries
No objectivity lies there to be preached, but yet no relativity
No doctrine shall be found on my lips for it's truth I seek to give
Drus, Animongaro
Lover of God
I give the love, that I am given
With truth against the world
Through the mysteries of life, I wander on my path
And seek to give some wisdom, that I am given
This little flame of mine, I will always let it shine
For all who wander, to the glory of the mystery
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