After almost 10 years of absence, the Greeks of Elysion' whose last album 'Someplace Better' date from 2014, recall to our good memories with a new album 'Bring Out Your Dead' which was released in March 2023. They take us into symphonic metal with catchy melodies from the first listening and, for my part, I have often made the parallel with the 'Within Temptation' of the early 2000s. Led by the singer 'Christiana Hatzimihali', they offer us 10 titles in radio format not exceeding four minutes for 43 total minutes of listening.
We are welcomed by an energetic 'Blink Of An Eye' in fairly classic symphonic metal with a first chorus that fits easily into the head and with some striking vocals from 'Christiana Hatzimihali', then, 'Crossing Over' (see video above) follows in his footsteps with a catchy new title and in this style, the resemblance to 'Within Temptation' is quite obvious and is reminiscent of the first two Dutch albums 'Enter' and 'Mother Heart' dating from 1997 and 2000 respectively, especially since Christiana, even if she has a slightly lower range than 'Sharon den Adel', has the same phrasing as the Dutch. Follows the mid-tempo 'Far Away' which continues in this path all traced with another melodic hit which should work very well in concert, then, with the very beautiful 'Buried Alive', I have the impression of hearing again 'Within Temptation' but this time in a more moderate register with a melody close to the first ballads in the early 2000s. Follows the trio 'As The Flower Withers', 'Raid The Universe' (see video here) and 'This Time which are all potential hits and which would, just like the first titles, have their place in a set list with melodic lines to be taken up in chorus and catchy rhythms conducive to moving an entire audience. New break ballad with the magnificent 'Brand New Me' which deploys a slow tempo and which highlights all the vocal sensitivity of 'Christiana Hatzimihali' doubled by very beautiful choirs, then, the album ends with two other melodic jewels with 'Blue Seasons' and 'Eternity' (see video here) which add for the first a new catchy chorus in a lighter atmosphere and for the second more supported riffs and a beautiful vocal performance of 'Christiana Hatzimihali' which modulates her voice depending on the alternation of intensity between the verses and the chorus, the rhythmic break in the middle of the title with beautiful vocalizations adding a beautiful diversity to this title.
In summary, the Greeks of Elysion' are making a remarkable comeback in the world of symphonic metal and offer us a very beautiful album filled with melodic compositions that we appropriate from the first listen and 'Bring Out Your Dead' should appeal to all lovers of symphonic metal, taking us back to the styles of the pioneers of the genre at the end of the 90s with 'Within Temptation' in mind... | |
