Wyrd

Elvenking play a style of folk metal you do not hear too often. The sound is power metal but the instruments and songwriting has a strong folk element. A lot of times I don't like folk influenced power metal because the folk elements are too strong and don't mix well with the metal influences. In the case of Elevenking that is not true at all. They seem to sound just about perfect.The first Elvenking release Heathenreel was quite good. For Wyrd they change singers although at first listen I didn't even notice. Another thing is Wyrd is produced with a little better sound than Hethenreel. In fact, perfect IMO.This is such a breath of fresh air I really can't say enough about these guys. Just the other day I went to the website because I was really hoping they were working on another release. I kind got good news and bad news. They are working on the next release but they got rid of the vocalist they used for Wyrd and went back to their first singer. I guess it is not really bad news since I do like the first singer but I like the album Wyrd so much that I am a little disappointed to hear of a linup change.Oh yeah, make sure you get the limited edition version with the 2 bonus tracks. Disappearing Sands is the first bonus track and it is as good as any track on the album and possibly the best track. A Fiery Stride is the second bonus track and although not a standout is still quite good.I'm not kidding here folks. This is one of my favorites of all my CD's and I have a ton of Power, Death, Goth and related metal CD's. The great thing is that it is unique. I mean I love an album such as Edguy's Vain Glory Opera or Gamma Ray's Somewhere Out In Space but there are a lot of similar albums out there. I promise if you pick this one it is quite unique but still your power metal ear will pick things up right away as they don't go off in funky directions at all.Must buy at any cost. Buy or burn in hell! God I'm praying they don't make any significant changes in the songwriting for the next album.

The first time that I listened to this album, I did not like it too much. The first track was a bad copy of Nightwish and the vocalists (I was told by some people that the vocalist was replaced) showing no harmony and pretty much giving me a bad impression of this album and delivering something I was completely unready for after listening to Heathenreel. However the good news is that after the first track the album picks up a little, and by a little I mean a lot.However the band changed and i am not sure that is was for the better. The lyrics now sound a lot more like standard power metal rather than the folky medley that they once were. Also the vocalists accent is now heard very easily. One thing that did improve on this album were the instrumentals. Elvenking's guitars now deliver very fast metal solos and the folk part of the band also improved greatly. However the arrangements and the combinations of metal and folk fall short. Many of the transitions seem forced and contrived. And at other times the band is forced to slow down to accomidate the mediocre vocalist.Overall this album is pretty good just for god-sake skip over the first track and you will enjoy this album a lot more.

I tend to just sit back, and enjoy the songs in this album. A poem for firmanent, for example, is a 12 minute long song that is so smooth, yet diverse (one thing about EK is their bridges, choruses and combination of instruments that keep me captivated) and otherworldly, that you can't help but fall in love with it (in my experience/opinion, of course.) "The loser's ball" is another lovely folk song that (although only 2 minutes in length) captures such a lovely 'folkish' essence. What can I say? I simply love this band... they keep trying new things and yet loyal to their own style.

STAND BEFORE THE NEW BORN KIND!!! Coming from Italy Elvenking has brought an explosive sound with beautiful colors. Its starts you off with "The losers ball" a very pretty folk sounding song. Then it goes into "Pathfinders" thats when the cd really kicks off. Their special "breakdowns" in their songs are happy sounding and put you in a good mood the "breakdowns" consist of a flute and a violen. Elvenking mix their two genres together (Power/folk) and make their own music with it. They did that and they made Wyrd. Best cd I have heard all summer and probably best cd released so far in 2004. i can't wait to see whats next! I have no bad comments on this cd everything was perfect. I recomend this cd to anyone who is a Rhapsody and Cruachan fan. Find it, buy it, love it.

This "Wyrd" album is one of the best I've heard in a while. They mix melodic power metal with a celtic music touch (sometimes more than just a touch). Very catchy but strong at the same time. Great vocals and musicianship too. Highly recomended.