Leaves’ Eyes : Meredead
by Joe Mis
Staff Writer
“Unmistakably different” reads the intro to Leaves’ Eyes bio on their Facebook page, and indeed that is not far from the truth. The veteran troupe of international symphonic metal stars is back with their fourth studio entitled Meredead. More than symphonic metal, Leaves’ Eyes bases much of their music on Nordic mythology in much the same way as Amorphis draws inspiration from Finland’s own epic tales – so in effect it is perhaps “folk metal.” Unorthodox – and a bit different – is what it is…
Leaves’ Eyes released their first CD back in 2004, and have been evolving ever since. Fronted by the vastly different vocal styles of wife and husband team of Liv Kristine and Alexander Krull, their music has often been described as “beauty and the beast.” The balance of the band is made up of the members of the popular German metal band Atrocity, but the true musical power of the band derives from the vocal interplay and the epic nature of their songs. Guitarist and bassist Thorsten Bauer teams well with fellow guitarist Sander van der Meer. The two seem equally comfortable whether laying down blistering heavy riffs or melodic and airy acoustic passages. The sometime huge and sometimes subtle drumming of Roland Navratil nicely complements Bauer’s bass. Liv Kristine came to light while singing lead for the Norwegian gothic band Theatre of Tragedy, and moved on to pop stardom – and then into partnership with Atrocity. Her powerful and clear voice plays well off of the guttural growl of Alexamder Krull.
Nicely produced and engineered, Meredead sounds exactly as symphonic metal should sound – intense and bombastic at times, and soft and subtle at others. Melody is ever-present and the sound quality is crisp no matter the volume or tempo. Based heavily on traditional Scandinavian tunes, Leaves’ Eyes does a fine job of retelling many old tales with a modern flourish. Despite being filled with many symphonic and operatic flourishes (and a handful of Norwegian and Old English lyrics), the music of Leaves’ Eyes remains accessible to fans outside of the genre thanks to its strong melodies, intelligent construction and top-of-the-line performances. Despite amazing performances by everyone in the band, Leaves’ Eyes is all about the vocals…
“Spirits’ Masquerade” opens the album and throws in everything from bagpipes and flutes to choir vocals to a bit of double bass and big booming bass – this somewhat over-the-top performance sets the stage for the fine and complex tracks that follow. Blending the modern and traditional seems to be second nature to the band, and their love for the medieval melodies clearly shows through the varying tempo changes and incredible musical arrangement. Many folk influences are present in “Étaín,” and Liv’s voice is in full bloom on this epic rocker. “Velvet Heart” has a bit of a “pop rock” feel to the opening, but quickly becomes a vocal masterpiece. The traditional Scandinavian keyed fiddle appears in the rousing Norwegian folk song “Kråkevisa”, and the band does a nice reinterpretation of Mike Oldfield’s “To France.” “Meredead” wraps the first half of the disk with some amazing guitar work and solid vocals.
The nearly nine minute epic “Sigrlinn” opens the back half of the disk, and for the first time Alexander Krull joins as a prominent vocalist, with his death metal growl used sparingly and effectively. This is one of the heaviest tracks on the album, and the “beauty and the beast” vocals work very well. Liv’s haunting vocals make “Mine Tåror er ei Grimme” worth listening to even if you don’t understand a word. “Empty Horizon” features some smooth keyboard work and nice duet vocals, with a clean singing Krull doing a fine job – indeed, all the vocalists throughout the album are superb. “Veritas” is a short atmospheric vocal piece, while “Nystev” is another re-imagined folks song featuring some great bass and drum work. The duet “Tell-Tale Eyes” closes out the album with fine acoustic style, reminding the listener of the folk-inspired Blackmore’s Night.
Operatic, symphonic and folk metal fans will enjoy Meredead. Fans of almost every metal genre will find something of interest here, and anyone into strong female vocalists with love it. Leaves’ Eyes may win many new fans for the genre by somehow making symphonic metal seem unpretentious. Prepare for a truly amazing and unique vocal experience – highly recommended.
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Band:
Liv Kristine (vocals)
Alexander Krull (vocals)
Thorsten Bauer (guitars, bass)
Sander van der Meer (guitars)
Roland Navratil (drums)
Track Listing:
1. Spirits’ 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
Label: Napalm Records
Website: http://www.leaveseyes.com/
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10