Eleine
Until the End

Like usual I seem to have missed the bands that are being talked about, it is said that Eleine is one of the most talked about bands in the symphonic metal genre. But just because I don’t really know them it doesn’t mean that the public can’t have high expectations for their second album Until the End. But according to the press material they have some hit singles on their new album, and it is more direct, powerful and unique than ever before. The latter might just as well be true considering that I have not heard their first album and this second might be better, more unique and powerful than their first album.

Like most symphonic metal they offer a good production, a relatively strong female vocalist and a rather boring male vocalist that they could do without. They don’t break any new musical ground, their music press the most common buttons of the symphonic metal genre and the song selection is the same as they often are on albums like this. I don’t really think that they offer anything unique, and it feels like we have heard it all before and perhaps a little too many time as there is no sense of excitement when listen through the 44-minute of playing time for this album. They do what they do well but I think that Until the End is a rather forgettable album.

Like a lighter version of Epica perhaps, but without the excitement of Epica and Simone is how I would describe this album. I think that it is a good album but it isn’t particularly exciting or fresh – like an album we have heard several times before. It has good tracks, decent melodies but the real hit songs are amiss and I don’t think the album really grabs my attention. The opening track, clearly inspired by film music, is the best track of the album in my view. From that track I then tend to loose interest for the album as the minutes pass by. In the end it may not have any major weakness, other than the lack of originality, but it isn’t really fresh enough to stand out.

Like so many other albums this presses the right buttons, it is good but it fails to excite. It is an album that won’t disappoint, but neither will it impress. It is a good album but not a very exciting album and if you are looking for symphonic metal there are better options to chose from.

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