LEAVES' EYES

I've always liked Leaves' Eyes, ever since their inception and debut full length release 'Lovelorn' back in 2004. However, their albums, at least for me, have perpetually fallen short of being great. That is not to say there's anything inherently bad about them, rather I've only ever regarded their releases as just good, not great. Some very good I hasten to add but never better than that. So here arrives latest release 'Meredead' and I can, at last, bestow them with a judgement of greatness that's forever been so teasingly promised. First things first, though, let's talk about the cover art. While also great, and the first not to feature frontwoman Liv Kristine, it bears more than a passing resemblance to Graveworm's 2005 album '(N)utopia'. In fact, it's overwhelmingly similar. Whether it be the same artist at work here I am unsure but, if not, then it's edging towards plagiarism. Still, that's only of minor concern when Leaves' Eyes have delivered an album as mighty as 'Meredead'. The initial thing to strike me is the prominent folk influence at work. Being a band that have always dabbled with folk elements in their sound it's not something entirely new but never before have they deployed folk instrumentation and songwriting as pronounced as on 'Meredead'. Take opener 'Spirit's Masquerade' as an example - its big choir led opening gives way to a passage of uilleann pipes before hitting you with full-on symphonic metal bombast, itself interposed two thirds of the way through with a minute and a half of atmospheric folk which segues into more sympho-metal for its outro. Second number 'Étaín' offers a more rounded fusion of the symphonic and folk elements rather than posing them as discrete passages as with the opener, and this is true of the majority of the rest of the album. Noticeable by their absence, or rather lack of, are Alexander Krull's death growls which only appear briefly on the lengthy 'Sigrlinn' although, conversely, the band have invited a plethora of singing talent to compliment the smooth tones of Liv's delivery which has the effect of enhancing and expanding Leaves' Eyes' soundscape. Well, the folk flavours that are prevalent throughout also have the same effect, but the inclusion of additional vocalists to the mix, both male and female, makes 'Meredead' a pleasingly varied listen. While Alexander is barely present growling-wise, he's responsible for keyboards and programming on the album, as well as acting as producer/mixer. And the production/mix is immense. At times, there are a fair few layers of music at play with the various folk instruments used on each of the tracks, but he's recorded them perfectly and mixed everything into a cohesive whole (including an appearance by Victor Smolski's Lingua Mortis Orchestra). The press sheet claims that "Leaves' Eyes has unequivocally reinvented itself" with 'Meredead'. With that I would not argue, and it's a reinvention worthy of your time and money. Recommended.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Napalm Records

Album

MEREDEAD

Review by Mark Holmes

RUNNING TIME:

54:42

RELEASE DATE:

25th April 2011

TRACK LISTING

1) Spirit's Masquerade
2) Étaín
3) Velvet Heart
4) Kråkevisa
5) To France
6) Meredead
7) Sigrlinn
8) Mine Tåror er ei Grimme
9) Empty Horizon
10) Veritas
11) Nystev; 12) Tell-Tale Eyes

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Deu & Nor

"Being a band that have always dabbled with folk elements in their sound it's not something entirely new but never before have they deployed folk instrumentation and songwriting as pronounced as on 'Meredead'."