Eluveitie - Slania - 2008

[The Strategos]

O.K. So Eluveitie's Slania. To the uninitiated, Eluveitie are a Swiss folk metal band and have an interesting array of instruments, including a flute, a hurdy-gurdy, a violin and a set of uilleann pipes. The style of the Folk is very celtic. O.K. The plus points of the album are that it feels really different, the different instruments sound great and are integrated seemlessly into the guitarwork and the celtic melodies are wonderful. There is a farily constant counter-pointing of the high flutes with the low and cruchy guitars, a similar techinique to the use of female voices in symponic metal. Also, what is really nice is the notes on each and every song in the album, setting it in context and also, by extention, teaching one about Celtic culture. A down side is that many of the songs sound the same. But hey, when they sound this good, it's a minor quibble ! 1. First, the intro Samon. Crackling logs and a breathy murmurring followed by an atmospheric and anticipation building section make this a perfect into! 9/10 2. Primordial Breath follows this and pick up perfectly in musical terms, the guitar chords are driving and the uilleann pipes are just wonderful! 9/10 3. Inis Mona. Well, simply the track of the album. It has an epic, dreamy feel with the uilleanns at with just the right amout of whistful sighing to them and the flute solo is marvellous. 10/10 4. Gray Sublime Archon rocks, with a rushing flute riff giving the song fast paced feel, as though running through a forest. 9/10 5. Anagantios. What a mournful song. Simply sublime action on violin and hurdy-gurdy and with a strangely English Folk (in a good way, not some beardy, guitar-strumming twerp burring on about young maidens in a over-exagerated west-country accent !). Very complatative and slightly sad. Magic. 10/10 6. Bloodstained Gound feels a bit like the guitar boys got a bit fed up about beign cut out of the previous song and so retaliated with this blinder. Whew, this is brutal and the flute rides above it, high and herioc like the pennat fluttering above some war-torn battlefield! 9/10 7. The Somber Lay is not very somber and feels much like the last song, although the flute plays throughout and demonstrates much more variety. 9/10 8. Slania's Song is lovelly, in Gaelic and the vocals are not death grunts but a woman's voice. 9/10 9. Giamonios is a lovelly little bit of flutework, a sort of interlude. 9/10 10. Tarvos. Wow, this song is just pure celebration and is wonderful! Also, it has a proper guitar riff as opposed to keeping this instrument for chords only! 9/10 11. Calling The Rain has a galloping feel, but sounds like a lot of the others. Still it is great. 9/10 12. Elembivos. This has the violin taking the tremble melody and this makes a really nice change. Also, there is some great chanting! 9/10 13. Finally, an accoustic version of Samon. But hey, this is folk metal, so instrumental versions are gooooodddddddddd! 9/10 I don't know about anybody else who has listened to this, but I found the notes made my question the my traditional viewpoint on Ancient Celts, whom I had alway thought rather savage. But they seem rather more civilised and in touch with nature in this interpretation. And it is true that most of what we know comes from the Romans, their enemies. Still, I can't entirely dismiss the ideas of their nastier aspects, such as human sacrifice and the brutality with which they kept attacking each other. But then again is this bellicose nature any worse than the invading Romans? Just less organised. Hmm, interesting thoughts (for me anyway ) ...

[heavythunder]

Re: Eluveitie - Slania - 2008 Nice detailed review, thanks. Track 4 is my favourite... I know what you mean when you say it's like running through a forest.

[The Strategos]

Re: Eluveitie - Slania - 2008 Thanks for leaving a comment heavythunder and welcome to the forum!

[Gary The Red]

Right thats the next album on my list to buy, I only have Helvetos and I love it.

[orcslayr23]

I think this is their last good album. Everything Remains doesn't work for me for some reason. I've also heard some of Helvetos and it doesn't grab me.

[BlutAusNerd]

Funny, I just listened to this album this morning and I see a post here. It was better than I remember it being, but still just okay. It's maybe only the second or third time I've listened to it since I got it a few years ago, but it's decent. If they would have let the guitars carry themselves a bit better I think it could have been great, but there were too many passages that were just boring guitar/bass chugs with the keyboards and folk instruments taking the lead. I don't mind that sort of thing, but you still have to have some riffs, which I felt weren't too well highlighted. It's the only album I have from them, so I can't comment on the others, but I doubt I'll ever buy anything else from them based on the general consensus that this was their best effort.