'Elfika' is a French group which was created in the early 2010s by the bassist and the songwriter of the group 'Manu P.' and who has just released their first LP containing 3 tracks from the first EP of 2014 which have been re-recorded and 5 new compositions. They are influenced by the big symphonic metal groups like 'Nightwish' or 'Epica' but it would be simplistic to assimilate them to a pale copy of the tenors of the genre because, although some titles are quite close to the standards of this style, they bring a real diversity in each composition with symphonic constructions dotted here and there with progressive.
After the instrumental introduction 'The Chamber Of Secrets' which already reveals a certain modernity in the orchestration, 'So Human' is a first energetic and melodic title in which we discover the frontwoman 'Laure Ali-Khodja' which offers us a remarkable performance alternating clear and lyrical singing and in which the vocal arrangements at the level of the choirs are admirable, then, with 'Angel', we continue in this register resulting with a new very effective melody and beautiful alternations between powerful parts and others quieter. Follows 'The Other' which begins in serenity with a slow tempo which gradually takes power to finish in an energetic rhythm while 'Broken Wings', on the contrary, starts in a lively tempo then, at around 3 minutes, becomes calm and serene, first with a sung part, then instrumental with a remarkable guitar solo and finally returns to the energetic theme of the beginning. It is with 'Dark Virgin' that we hold the flagship title of the album (and my favorite of the album), of almost 13 minutes which takes us on a symphonic-progressive saga with an introduction in which Laure resumes for a minute the beginning of the 'Ave Maria' of 'Gounod' and which gives way to a magnificent melody which offers us very beautiful choirs and which gives me the impression of hearing a mixture of 'A Fade to Gray' from the group 'Visage' from 1981 for the melody and from 'Spirit Chase' from the symphonic metal band 'Imperia' for the choirs (see here) and which presents beautiful alternations between calm and grandiose parts with a magnificent finish in which 'Laure Ali-Khodja' continues to enchant us. The album ends with two titles which already appeared in the first EP, more conventional but very effective, first of all, the energetic and enticing 'Inferno' then finally, the mid-tempo 'One Day' with a last melody that never leaves you (weird on Spotify the title is not in full, too bad !).
In summary, the French of 'Elfika' released a very good album of symphonic metal without copying the big groups of the genre because they bring their own personality by offering varied and accessible compositions which destines' Secretum Secretorum' to a audience loving symphonic metal with accessible melodies... | |
