Swedish metal band ELEINE have really put the dark in their dark symphonic metal trademark sound with their fourth album, “We Shall Remain.” After their breakthrough album, 2020’s “Dancing in Hell,” and subsequent tours with KAMELOT in Europe and MOONSPELL in North America, as well as an acoustic stint with SONATA ARTICA, they were more than ready to cement their status in the metal scene as a heavy band worthy of such company. In this respect, their newest studio effort, “We Shall Remain,” which is scheduled for release on July 14th, 2023, via Atomic Fire Records, is an ambitious statement of intent.
Dark, heavy, and gritty, the band’s new album is a real tour de force featuring some of the nastiest riffs and thundering drums they have ever written. In between the guitar-driven soundscape, the increased focus on Madeleine Liljestam’s vocals, and the black, death, and thrash influences, there’s a subtle shift in their approach to songwriting that makes these songs work better. In my review of their previous effort, “Dancing in Hell,” I actually made a point about how ELEINE are at their best when Madeleine Liljestam is given space to shine on the songs, with the case in point having been “Memoriam” and “Ava of Death.” For the most part, this album has confirmed my hunch. She is a very skilled and versatile singer that can really carry (and even elevate) the material… if only there would be some more variation to her vocal performance.
Consequently, there aren’t many harmonized passages or contrasting moments between her melodic vocals and Rikard Ekberg’s harsh vocals, but the end result is just as compelling. Take, for instance, outstanding single “War Das Alles,” with its Gothic aura and ethereal beauty, or oriental-infused “Through the Mist” – which is impressive in how melodic it comes across despite the powerful drumming and orchestral arrangements – as evidence of her charisma and prowess. While there may not be enough vocal juxtaposition, like on previous releases, there are quite a few melodic dynamics at play on a song-by-song basis. One such example is album highlight “Promise of Apocalypse” where symphonic metal elements and metal riffage are paired with a melancholy vocal delivery that feels relegated to the backseat, making for an interesting listening experience that borders on atmospheric black metal. It’s hard to say if it was a deliberate stylistic choice or it is just the mixing but the guitars are quite loud and in-your-face but never really overpowering the vocals. This is a tricky balance to maintain but they pull it off nicely.
Elsewhere on the album, “Blood in Their Eyes” treads the aforementioned balance with care, resulting in a song that is powerful and muscular, with a vocal performance to match the instrumental side. Pretty much the same can be said about two of the singles – mid-tempo banger “Stand by the Flame” and metal anthem “Never Forget” – which are melodic, catchy, and really good headbangers in a live setting, but otherwise pretty standard to what ELEINE is known for. The first single released, hymn “We Are Legion,” is, unfortunately, too simple and straightforward to make a lasting impression beyond the hooky chorus, while “Suffering” tries to employ the same formula as “Promise of Apocalypse” but doesn’t really reach the same heights, being too linear and uniform in both songwriting and delivery. It’s not to say that these songs are bad or anything of the sort, but they are not standouts either; instead they fall into the “good enough” category. Soaring closing track “We Shall Remain” gives Madeleine Liljestam more space in the mix to showcase her beautiful voice, accompanied by some backing choirs and orchestral arrangements that really elevate the chorus, while the guitars chug along to the beat of the drums during the verses, producing a nice ebb-and-flow to the music.
Herewith lies my issue with this album: it’s pretty linear. Except for short instrumental break in “Vemod,” there’s nothing to really break the flow of the music, no ballad or softer piece to balance the heaviness of the album, especially when you have such a thick wall of sound as the backbone of your tracks. Also, except for the melodic dynamics within the songs, there are no peaks and valleys to give the listeners a respite. Even for a shorter album like this one, which clocks in at 37 minutes, hearing the same chugging of the guitars and pounding of the drums can get both tiresome and predictable, great solos and riffs notwithstanding. With that being said, taken individually, the songs range from good enough to great, to even outstanding (“War Das Alles” and “Promise of Apocalypse” are my favorite of the bunch), but together they tend to lose their individuality. Some piano/keyboard lines here in there or more emphasis on the symphonic/orchestral elements would have been a nice touch to complement Madeleine‘s vocals and soften the harshness of the instrumental side.
To conclude on a positive note, the vocal delivery on this album is on point, the guitar melodies are well written and well performed, the basslines are thick and resounding, and the drums are precise and punchy, which makes for a rather massive and epic record. The uplifting messages embedded in these songs are just an added bonus to the quality of the music these Swedes have created. “We Shall Remain” is a solid effort from ELEINE but does require some listens to thoroughly digest and get a sense of what the band wanted to achieve with these songs, which is to put their own twist on the oftentimes oversaturated symphonic metal playbook, and thus creating their own distinct sound.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
1. Never Forget
2. Stand by The Flame
3. We Are Legion
4. Promise of Apocalypse
5. Blood in Their Eyes
6. Vemod
7. Through The Mist
8. Suffering
9. War Das Alles
10. We Shall Remain
Lineup
Madeleine Liljestam | vocals
Rikard Ekberg | guitars, vocals
Filip Stålberg | bass
Jesper Sunnhagen | drums
Label
Atomic Fire Records
