In the field of festive power metal tinged with folk, 'Elvenking' is in a very good place and, after the first part 'Divination' of 'Reader of the Runes' released in 2019, the Italians are releasing the sequel with 'Rapture'. It's no surprise that we find the epic style they had distilled in the previous opus with melodies to sing along to and well-calibrated atmospheres to make an entire audience headbang: the eponymous title of the album which was the subject of a single in 2022 (see the video above) sets the scene with a first super melodic hit which should work well in concert by giving a furious desire to accompany the group on the well-marked rhythm. The sequel continues in this well-trodden way and the two following compositions 'The Hanging Tree' (see the video here) and 'Bride of Night' (see video here) are not to be outdone and have also been the subject of singles. We continue with compositions that bring their zest of folk metal and parade, 'Herdchant' (see the video here) and 'The Cursed Cavalier', both with addictive choruses to repeat until the voice dies out, then, the warrior 'To The North', dotted with growls here and there and unleashed double pedals, put the boot with communicative energy and a new catchy chorus. More moderate, the hymn 'Covenant' shows beautiful vocal harmonies, then, then, the end of the album scrolls through new unifying melodies and I will quote, first of all 'Red Mist' which alternates calm passages and other energetic ones which brings a beautiful diversity, the catchy 'Incantations' conducive to the headbang and with a new chorus to take in chorus and the last title 'The Repentant' which closes the album on a new frenzied rhythm.
In summary, if you are a fan of folk metal or power metal, you should undoubtedly adopt this latest album by the Italians of Elvenking' which is filled with unstoppable hymns and whose compositions should take a good place in the next concerts of the group... | |
