I tried to forgive Eluveitie for last years Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion. Though it wasn’t a bad record, it wasn’t a metal record either. Now the band takes the obvious leap back into metal, but what we get is no comparison to 2008’s Slania. Unless you are a diehard fan of this band, Everything Remains (As it Never Was) is going to be a forgettable album.
It’s not really Eluveitie‘s fault either. As a fan of the bands previous work, and folk metal in general, it is obvious that the cracks are starting to show in this particular sub-genre. Eluveitie really aren’t helping matters either considering this album is completely saturated with a formulated approach that is anything but exciting, and most of this record sounds like Evocation I with a little electric guitar sprinkled in to satisfy fans. The metal edge just isn’t there, leaving the folk instruments and catchy chorus lines front and center.
There are some good songs on this record though, starting with the title track. When I first starting listening to this record I was kind of excited because this song is really where the band left off two tears ago. However, they blow their Swiss load quickly with that song and the album fades into oblivion after that where most songs get to the chorus within 30 seconds and sound like a Pagan version of Linkin Park.
So, a band I once really enjoyed has become stale and lackluster when compared to the forerunners of the genre like Ensiferum, Suidakra, and Equilibrium. Eluveitie write catchy hard rock music with a lot of hurdy-gurdy and female chorus lines. If that’s your thing then by all means get this, but even in that sub-genre there are better records. I’d like to hear this band just go full on organic acoustic with a darker vibe. I think I could enjoy that more than this half-assed attempt at folk metal.
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Spirit was awesome. Slania was awesome. Evocation was awesome (and definitely a Metal album to boot). And Everything Remains is awesome. I don’t see what there is to complain about here. These guys and galls play this genre of Metal better and with more conviction than any other band out there. The songwriting is fantastic, and the performances are spot on. Easily one of the best bands to come along in the last 5 years.
A Pagan version of Linkin Park? Please. Sounds like someone is trying to spearhead the next big Metal backlash.
on Mar 1st, 2010 at 22:25It’s an opinion dude. Glad you like the album. Listen to it all you like. No need to get pissy everytime I write a review. We certianly do not agree.
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 09:13I actually agree with Shane on these guys- way over rated. its swedecore/melodeath with a hurdy gurdy
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:17I agree with BP.. This album is very good , very catchy and these guys certainly pull off this style near flawlessly. Like it for what it is instead of dissing it for what it isn’t (and shouldn’t be).
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 13:15“pissy everytime you write a review”? Man, get over yourself. This is the second review of yours that I have ever even read. The first being the Swallow The Sun review, which I thought was well written and pretty spot on. The only thing I disagreed with is that I think Hope is a better album. To which you responded quite disrespectfully by referring to my opinion of that album being “silly”.
As for this review, making a comparison to Linkin Park is an incredible stretch, and to me it reeks of Internet TROO “more Metal than thou” bullshit. So I called you on it, and then, to use your own words, you got “pissy” with me.
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 21:45Yeah, Shane. Stop being so tr00 and kvlt. :lol:
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 22:59I hate it when Mommy and Daddy fight
on Mar 3rd, 2010 at 00:57Shane’s the Mommy. :lol:
on Mar 3rd, 2010 at 22:54And I still love you sweetheart. Lets not fight anymore.
on Mar 4th, 2010 at 07:31Makeup sex!
on Mar 4th, 2010 at 09:50Anyone know how to pronounce the band name? Once I get past that hurdle I will check out the music…Ha!!!!!
on Mar 5th, 2010 at 08:00I believe it’s El-u-wet-e
Just a hunch though.
on Mar 5th, 2010 at 08:58Nope I was wrong. From Wiki
(pronounced El-vay-Tee)
on Mar 5th, 2010 at 09:00that pronunciation makes no sense to me , lol… I’ll continue calling them “EL-U-VAI-TI”..
on Mar 5th, 2010 at 10:08I will call them El Conquistador!!!!… thanks for all the replies to my question.
on Mar 5th, 2010 at 10:46“Evocation was awesome (and definitely a Metal album to boot)”
I liked Evocation, thought it was good, but how exactly was it a metal album? I need someone to explain that. I just went and listened to a few tracks, don’t hear any metal.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 01:17making a mention of the next big backlash could be quite accurate. I don’t think it will be all that long before this type of metal goes the route of nu-thrash and deathcore. Its a one-trick pony with levels of cheese rivaled only by the most over the top Euro power metal (and of course Manowar). That said even Manowar has persevered for many years now with a steady fanbase, I don’t see any such distinction awaiting these bands years down the road. I harbor no ill will towards it as I’m quite ambivalent to it all (aside from Forefather, good band right there) but thats how I see it.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 08:38To Manowar’s credit they actually wrote a ton of epic and memorable songs — if not whole albums (Hail to England, Sign of the Hammer are pure gold). As for this genre, it can breed ‘catchy’ stuff but rarely does it have any real staying power; pure fast food.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 08:54I agree Apollyon. Speaking purely in terms of cheese is where the comparison lies. For quality of songs there is no question that Manowar has the upper hand. In their prime they were a superior band to anything I’ve heard from this folk-drinking-song style.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 14:44