Elvenking is an Italian metal band that since its creation, in 1997, has 'built' its popularity 'step by step'. With this chapter (Reader Of The Runes-Rapture), the band presents the second part of the trilogy “Reader of the Runes”. The first chapter, "Divination", released back in 2019 by AFM Records, and as I saw in many metal webzines, it achieved to gain positive reviews by both press and metal fans. This new one, “Rapture”, was written between 2020 and 2022, and was recorded between May and October 2022 by the band and renowned producer Scott Atkins (Cradle of Filth, Behemoth), who also did the mixing and mastering.
“We feel stronger than ever”, frontman and vocalist Damna states. “I believe after so many years we have gained full confidence in what we do and especially in what we want to achieve. The path in front of us is clear. We have left behind all fancies, inexperience and immaturity and we know inherently what is possible and what is not.
After the very first spin, I have to say that I really enjoyed Elvenking's music a lot! In my ears, the band combines perfectly a variety of metal styles (classic metal, melodic power metal, folk-metal....) in a very special way that sounds pretty tasteful. Some impressive and anthemic metal hymns such as "The Hanging Tree", "The Cursied Cavalier" and the ultra catchy "Bride Of Night" (just listen to the chorus here... ) are enriched in with harmonies, big guitars and powerful vocals and it must be played on a maximum volume! The 'folk death metal' tune of "To The North" is among the highlights here while in "Red Mist" we have, probably, the best track out of "Rapture". A song that starts as a ballad and somewhere in the middle explodes into a heavier song with some excellent and more 'theatrical' arrangements.
All in all I have to say that this is just an excellent piece of melodic metal album all the way. It's technically brilliant with all the necessary big melodies including, the variety of styles perfectly balanced, the agressivity and power in all its glory that at the end makes "Reader Of The Runes-Rapture" a serious contenter for this year's best of lists in any rock/metal webzine!
🏆 10 / 10
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LINE - UP
DAMNA (vocals), AYDAN (guitars), HEADMATT (guitars), LETHIEN (violin), JAKOB (bass), SYMOHN
(drums)
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