Band: Leaves’ Eyes
Release: Symphonies Of The Night
Release Date: 18th November
Its that time of year where everyone in the film world is getting excited for the second instalment of the Hobbit. Well, just set your mind on this idea. Imagine if the Hobbit and Michael Flatley had a love child, who had a passion for every heavy riff in the book. German five-piece Leaves’ Eyes fifth studio album, ‘Symphonies Of The Night’ is exactly that. Sending the listener into a journey of legends told through symphonic metal; its a story that’s worth telling. A story worth telling a few times over at that.
Hailing heroines; frontwoman and lead vocalist Liv Kristine opens the album with ‘Hell to the Heavens’. Induced and fuelled by melodic beauty, the track drops into savage unmerciful riffs, combined with screams from vocalist Alexander Krull. It leads the way for a mythological theme that carries the record. The opener eludes to the idea that the band are preparing for battle, with chanting style vocals and ruthless continuous drum patterns. Its a unique stand point that intrigues and grasps the ear.
As the record continues, it pays tribute to those who have inspired them, as Kristine narrates historical legends in a way that holds host to ancient orchestral tones, smothered in Irish charm. ‘Ophelia’, derived from Shakespeare’s Hamlet demonstrates the band’s partial Scandinavian roots. It creates a profound atmospheric elegance within a genre that is synonymous for brutality. ‘Saint Cecilia’ tells the story of martyr, Cecilia of Rome, through a true showcase of what Kristine’s vocals are made of. It has an operatic aria style, alongside the inclusion of a monk-esque choir, that shows parallel’s to Thirty Seconds To Mars’ L490.
But where this record truly shines is through tracks ‘Hymn to the Lone Sands’ and ‘Nightshade’. The Uileann pipes come to life and inject graceful octaves of harmonious artistry into the album, before plunging into Irish under-toned metal. It presents the idea of a multinational undertone that filters from track-to-track with the use of varied instruments as well as languages. With these highlights accompanied by heart throbbing tracks such as the title track, ‘Symphony of the Night’, there is a true message that this is a collective body of work. Each track was created to work together as chapters to produce a finished book.
To sum it up, ‘Symphonies of the Night’ takes hosts to Leaves’ Eyes classic style, but brings it to a new, re-invigorated level. Listeners will be challenged by its rare play on symphonic metal. Whether it be your cup-of-tea or not, its a challenge worth taking. We thought us Brits were the best in town, but it looks like we’ve got rivalry on our hands.
8/10
