by Joe Mis
– Senior Columnist —
King of Kings marks the triumphant return of Leaves’ Eyes to the pinnacle of the Symphonic Metal world. After adopting somewhat of a softer and more varied sound on their prior release Symphonies of the Night, King Of Kings cranks the power and intensity up to 11 making it one of the decade-old band’s heaviest. The Norwegian quintet dips into their own national history and recounts the tales of Harald Fairhair, Norway’s first king in fine Viking style!
Fronted by the operatic voice of Liv Kristine and the Death Metal growls of Alexander Krull, Leaves’ Eyes was one of the pioneers of the “beauty and the beast” vocal style, but they are so much more. Liv’s soprano is genuine and would be welcomed at any opera house around the world, while Alexander continues to front the respected Death Metal band Atrocity. Writing songs suited to both voices comes naturally to the married couple, and since the band dropped their first release (Lovelorn, 2004) they have take much of their inspiration from the history, mythology, and legends of the Scandinavian people. The pair is joined by fellow original member Thorsten Bauer (guitars and bass) and new members Pete Streit (guitar) and Joris Nijenhuis (drums). As is their tradition, Leaves’ Eyes has brought in guest singers on some tracks – in this case Epica’s Simone Simons and Wardruna’s Lindy-Fay Hella.
King Of Kings continues Leaves’ Eyes blending of Symphonic Metal and national folk with classical/historical themes – something the band does better than any other. Musically, this album is harder and more intense than the previous release – thanks to the military and martial subject matter. “Sweven” is an atmospheric intro tune with many old acoustic instruments and very soft Norwegian vocals that lead into folk chant. The track fades into the theatrical “King Of Kings,” followed by “Halvdan the Black” – tunes that leaves no doubt that Leaves’ Eyes is symphonic metal. Liv’s soft vocals are backed up by a lush choir, and Krull’s Death growl makes a great counterpoint. Krull is much more visible (well, audible really) on this release than on the prior two – and he also continues his fine production work. “The Waking Eye” brings in more keys and an overall lighter tone – a fine symphonic metal track that highlights Liv’s amazing vocal abilities. “Feast of the Year” is a tidy, upbeat folk intro to the Celtic sounding “Vengeance Venom” – an enjoyable track with a great rolling rhythm line, kicky drums and bass, and enthusiastic vocals.
“Sacred Vow” is an up-tempo Rocker with manic drum work, the best guitars breaks on the album, and many layers of haunting. In some ways this track is more “commercial” or accessible, but is in no way diminished by that fact. Epica’s well-known singer Simone Simons makes a guest appearance on the awesome martial Metal “Edge Of Steel,” making this heavy anthem a winner. There is so much going on in this track – 3 lead singers, layers of keys, background effects, multi-layered backing vocals, etc. – but somehow Krull’s strong hand and production experience keep it all under control and make it a truly memorable song. In sharp contrast “Haraldskvadi” is a wonderful, soft track with an almost atmospheric feel. Old style instruments and acoustic guitars weave a folk tapestry and conjure up many emotions and images. If there is one track that epitomizes the music of Leaves’ Eyes it is “Blazing Waters.” This seven minute epic has it all, from soft acoustics and gentle vocals to blazing, ultra heavy guitars and death metal growls, and mixes Symphonic Metal and old school Heavy Metal with touches of death and progressive – making it the band’s most musically adventurous and diverse track. The band is joined by guest singer Lindy-Fay Hella (Wardruna). A heavy folk feel and Celtic rhythms fill the closing track “Swords In Rock,” an upbeat toe-tapper that is sure to be the highlight of a Leaves’ Eyes live set.
King of Kings is an amazingly diverse album, quite probably their best, proving that Leaves’ Eyes is a truly talented and creative group. Strong songwriting is backed up by flawless performance and excellent engineering – hard to imagine a more potent combination. Kristine, Krull, and Bauer are a solid core and always manage to surround themselves with excellent musicians, resulting in finely polished and fascinating material. Their penchant for using authentic ancient instruments only adds to the texture and atmosphere – and with songs based on history and legend even the most jaded listener may end up learning something.
If you consider Symphonic Metal to be theatrical or cinematic, Leaves’ Eyes King of Kings has been filmed in Hi-Def IMAX, and is a pleasure to hear. Highly recommended for fans of Liv Kristine, Leaves’ Eyes, Symphonic or Folk Metal, and anyone looking for an aural treat.
Genre: Symphonic Metal, Folk Metal
Band:
Liv Kristine (vocals)
Alexander Krull (vocals)
Thorsten Bauer (guitar, bass)
Pete Streit (guitar)
Joris Nijenhuis (drums)
Guest vocalists: Simone Simons (Epica) on track 8, Lindy-Fay Hella (Wardruna) on track 10
Track Listing:
1. Sweven
2. King of Kings
3. Halvdan the Black
4. The Waking Eye
5. Feast of the Year
6. Vengeance Venom
7. Sacred Vow
8. Edge of Steel
9. Haraldskvadi
10. Blazing Waters
11. Swords in Rock
Label: AFM Records
Website: www.leaveseyes.de
Hardrock Haven rating: 9.5/10
