The Swiss Folk Metallers Eluveitie have returned with their ninth album, “Anv,” via Nuclear Blast. Since their inception in 2002, the band has been at the forefront of the folk-metal genre, but they have much more to offer. They often branch out into heavy and thrashy territory while including beautiful melodies and passages in their songs.
The intro “Emerge” segues into the chaotic “Taranoias,” and we are off and running. The next track, “The Prodigal Ones,” keeps things on a frenzied pace. One of my favorite things about Eluveitie is their ability to mix super heavy, aggressive music with healthy doses of melodicism. The ethereal title song is next and heads into the heavy “Premonition”.
Next, we have my favorite track, the beautifully melodic “Awen” (check out the cool video, too). Other highlights include: “All is One”, “Aeon of the Crescent Moon”, and “The Prophecy”, which is the perfect trifecta to bring this album to a close.
Eluveitie is such an incredible band. It has been exciting to witness their progression over the years. Nine albums in, and the band continues to release great music from the heart. “Anv” is a beautiful work of art.
Tracklist
- Emerge
- Taranoias
- The Prodigal Ones
- Anv
- Premonition
- Awen
- Anamcara
- The Harvest
- Memories of Innocence
- All Is One
- Aeon of the Crescent Moon
- The Prophecy
Line Up
- Chrigel Glanzmann – Lead vocals, acoustic guitars, mandolin, Uilleann pipes, bodhrán, whistles, harp
- Fabienne Erni – Lead vocals, mandola, Celtic harp
- Rafael Salzmann – Lead guitars
- Jonas Wolf – Rhythm guitars
- Lea-Sophie Fischer – Violin, hurdy-gurdy
- Matteo Sisti – Bagpipes, whistles, acoustic guitars, mandolin, Uilleann pipes, bodhrán, hurdy-gurdy
- Kay Brem – Bass guitars
- Alain Ackermann – Drums, percussion