After the very good album of ‘Elitania' (see here), Mexico is still on the front of the symphonic metal scene with ''Ain' (do not forget the apostrophe before Ain which is a latinization of 'ayin meaning the eye) which is a duet consisting of mezzo-soprano 'Elena Garnes' and keyboardist 'Francisco Velasco' to which have been added several guests (see below). Although already close to 9 years of existence, 'Flor d'Elixir' is their first studio album and at the first listening, we are embarked on a symphonic style both powerful and melodic with Elena's lyric singing which can reminds 'Tarja' and in 'Time's Embrace' the choirs of the 'Panthea Choir Ensamble' bring an original encounter between metal and classical (Be Careful, in Spotify, there is a reversal between 'Black Lake' and 'Time's Embrace'). Several compositions have oriental melodic influences like 'Nacre Moonlight' or 'Adonia', others are more classic like mid-tempo 'Those Lost Things' and the melodic 'Winterheart', 'Black Lake' and 'Sleeping Alone', others are calmer as the power ballade 'Nieve Negra' or the magnificent 'Lake Black II' in Piano / Voice acoustics but the title track of the album is without contest 'Oracle' which is an epic saga closely of 15 minutes in the style of what 'Christofer Johnsson' can do with 'Therion' and which sums up the album by itself with a mix of classic and metal. Note that the Spotify version offers us two additional titles, the power ballad 'Vigourus Spring' and the magnificient 'Hidden' completely out of step with the rest because it is a sensual and stripped piano/voice between blues and jazz in which Elena shows all her talent with her clear voice. In summary, ''Ain' is a very promising new project mixing different styles of metal and 'Flor d'Elixir' can be recommended for all lovers of symphonic metal who like formations like 'Therion' or 'Epica'... | |
