It’s no secret that Sweden are one of the top breeding grounds for new metal bands. In the past year, I have heard the name ELEINE pop up around my friendship circle and the Symphonic Metal circuit. After hearing the strong sounds from their upcoming album Dancing In Hell, they could easily join the list of Swedish metal icons such as SABATON, AMARANTHE and many more.
It opens up with the mighty sounds of Enemies, from the moment you press play you are treated to pure symphonic metal greatness. From the majestic orchestral arrangements to the fierce growls, it gives us a taste on what to expect on the rest of the album. Long-time fans will already know what to expect as this song featured on their previous EP All Shall Burn, which vocalist Madeleine Liljestam and guitarist/growler Rikard Ekberg describe as a bridge between their previous full-length album Until The End and Dancing In Hell.
If you have crossed that bridge via All Shall Burn and have liked what they have heard, you won’t be disappointed by the bombastic sounds of Dancing In Hell. I notice that Dancing In Hell is slightly heavier than Until The End, which isn’t a bad thing at all. You can hear that signature sound they have carefully crafted.
Imagine EPICA’s symphonic arrangements and growls alongside LACUNA COIL’s Cristina Scabbia on vocals, this should give you an idea what the title track sounds like. It doesn’t mess around; it gets straight to the point with a heavy and pumping guitar riff before being treated to beautifully created orchestral arrangements. This is a song a lot of us can relate to as it looks into forcing a smile whilst fighting with a mental battle, lyrics such as “I walked for years with open wounds” and “Fading in time, dancing in hell as I smile”.
Ava Of Death was one of the singles released and this was the one that caught my attention. From the heavy, hair swishing riffs to the grand orchestral arrangements that wouldn’t be out of place in a gothic fantasy. For some reason, Mount Doom from the Lord Of The Rings trilogy come to mind when listening to this track. The magnificent arrangements in this track match the high impact of volcano or somewhere as hot as hell, that could be why.
DIMMU BORGIR come to mind when I listen to Where Your Rotting Corpses Lies. It is my ideal symphonic track and I will tell you why. The beats are worthy of headbanging and foot stomping. There are gothic vibes given from the orchestral arrangements, the fierce growls and the passionate vocals. All these elements combined together create an empowering track. If I feel this power and determination after listening to it, imagine what experiencing this live will do.
Die From Within is on par with a climax of a film or TV series. From Madeleine’s powerful vocal work to Rikard’s finger blistering solos that are backed up the climatic orchestral arrangements, this song emulates passion. It ends on a symphonic version of this track that is just as powerful and climatic.
After listening to Dancing In Hell, it’s easy to see why this is an anticipated album release and I will certainly be listening to them a lot more. It made me realise I should have been listening to them sooner. This album is proof ELEINE are future Symphonic Metal icons in the making.
Rating: 8/10
Words: Lotty Whittingham
Dancing In Hell is out 27th November 2020 via Black Lodge Records.
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