For
Giving-For Getting
[Rage Of Achilles]
Finland's Elenium are one of those bands that go far beyond the melodic death metal label that they have been brandished with. Combining several musical styles with excellent musicianship, Elenium throw up a big middle finger to those that wish to pigeonhole them.
Sure, the overall approach to Elenium's sound is melodic death metal, but elements of thrash, prog, goth, and a little nu-metal are all present. There is a huge keyboard presence (much more than most melodic DM bands), and keyboardist Johannes Salo utilizes some great tones and melodies on every tune. His intro to "Subcreator" is especially cool, and the jazzy interlude in that same tune is pleasantly unexpected. One of the more striking features of For Giving-For Getting is the guitar playing. It is definitely guitar-hero stuff stright out of the 80's, with a heavily-processed tone and style reminiscent of Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Guitarists Kasperi Heikkinen and Tommi Leinonen are both excellent players, with solid ryhthm and harmony playing as well as soloing. There is a nice display of dynamics throughout much of the album that is so rare these days, especially in the death metal genre. Also of note is the use of groove (where the aforementioned nu-metal influence comes in), with a Pantera-like tightness and drive.
Singer Jukka Pelkonen is a solid frontman, alternating between a gruff death growl and an almost goth-like clean voice (at times he reminds me of Ozzy with a lower range). He doesn't necessarily carve out his own niche here, but he serves the music well.
Production is very solid on For Giving-For Getting. Everything is clear and mixed perfectly, which is no mean feat. With multiple guitars and such a keyboard-heavy style, it is amazing how clearly everything can be heard. There could be a bit more bass presence in the mix, but otherwise, a fine production job.
Elenium show great promise on their first full-length. While the melodic death style is getting a bit stale in my opinion, For Giving-For Getting shows that there is still some life left in this dead horse.
[Rage Of Achilles]
Finland's Elenium are one of those bands that go far beyond the melodic death metal label that they have been brandished with. Combining several musical styles with excellent musicianship, Elenium throw up a big middle finger to those that wish to pigeonhole them.
Sure, the overall approach to Elenium's sound is melodic death metal, but elements of thrash, prog, goth, and a little nu-metal are all present. There is a huge keyboard presence (much more than most melodic DM bands), and keyboardist Johannes Salo utilizes some great tones and melodies on every tune. His intro to "Subcreator" is especially cool, and the jazzy interlude in that same tune is pleasantly unexpected. One of the more striking features of For Giving-For Getting is the guitar playing. It is definitely guitar-hero stuff stright out of the 80's, with a heavily-processed tone and style reminiscent of Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Guitarists Kasperi Heikkinen and Tommi Leinonen are both excellent players, with solid ryhthm and harmony playing as well as soloing. There is a nice display of dynamics throughout much of the album that is so rare these days, especially in the death metal genre. Also of note is the use of groove (where the aforementioned nu-metal influence comes in), with a Pantera-like tightness and drive.
Singer Jukka Pelkonen is a solid frontman, alternating between a gruff death growl and an almost goth-like clean voice (at times he reminds me of Ozzy with a lower range). He doesn't necessarily carve out his own niche here, but he serves the music well.
Production is very solid on For Giving-For Getting. Everything is clear and mixed perfectly, which is no mean feat. With multiple guitars and such a keyboard-heavy style, it is amazing how clearly everything can be heard. There could be a bit more bass presence in the mix, but otherwise, a fine production job.
Elenium show great promise on their first full-length. While the melodic death style is getting a bit stale in my opinion, For Giving-For Getting shows that there is still some life left in this dead horse.
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| Tracklist: 01. Up The Long Ladder 02. Eye For An Eye 03. Impostor 04. Nameless-Faceless 05. Moments 06. Subcreator 07. Under The Mug 08. For Me 09. To Aim And Miss |
| Rating: 7.5/10 |
| Release Date: 2003 |
| Length: 41:02 |
| Review By: Rumplesmoothskin |
| Total Reviews: (1) |
| Bands Website: Go Here |
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