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Leaves Eyes – ‘Realm Of Dark Waves’ - Reviewed By Jenny Tate! Thursday March 7 2024, 5:34 PM

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Leaves Eyes – ‘Realm Of Dark Waves’ - Reviewed By Jenny Tate ! Check it out here at this link: https://jennytate.wordpress.com/2024/03/07/leaves-eyes-realm-of-dark-waves/

The legendary Leaves Eyes have released a series of 5 videos, promoting their new album, ‘Myths Of Fate’ and the new single, ‘Realm Of Dark Waves’. All videos were created with Mastersound Entertainment and shot around Iceland, Poland and their native, Germany.

Fantasy based, featuring legends and interactive themes, ‘RODW’ is premiered on YouTube.

‘MOF’ follows ‘The Last Viking’ and marks their 20th anniversary. Their 9th album, so far, ‘MOF’ is just as powerful and enrapturing as its predecessors, mixing the same potion of magical sounds. (Symphonic, epic, folk, gothic, classical, fantasy and Viking metal). The album’s available to order.

Formed in 2003, the quintet brings an in-depth intensity and historical focus to their well-acclaimed music; a fact borne out, in previous releases, ‘The Vinland Saga’ (2005), ‘Njord’ (2009), ‘King Of Kings’ (2015) and ‘Sign Of The Dragonhead’ (2018).

A complete multi-sensory experience, their music videos transfix audiences, as much as their songs and live shows. 2020’s ‘Viking Spirit’ documentary film is testament to that.

Conveying, deeply, their love of Viking re-enactments, ‘VS’ digs further down, to the roots of the realms invoked in LE’s albums.

In particular, the life-sized stage props used, during their live sets raised the bar, for other metal shows.

Returning to ‘MOF’, its inspirations are largely built around North and Eastern European mythology; specifically, the Middle Ages and their ongoing impact. A strong symphonic element features.

Various worlds and other worlds are explored, throughout the album and in addition to utilising influence from past L.E. material, ‘RODW’ is actually a mediaeval hymn, recounting the seduction and drowning of souls, by the Goddess of the Sea, bringing the sound full-circle.

Their international tour begins on 14th March, running all the way through to 13th April, featuring special guests, Metalite and Catalyst Crime.

Realm Of Dark Waves – Very powerful metallic blasts open, onto a beautifully evoked fantasy wonderland. Precision sharpness, melodically conveyed. Pointed drumming beats out the message. Artistically and precisely vocalised, with pin-point tonality; all accompaniments meet it there. Complete visual transportation to that realm. Highly cinematic styling, incorporating strands of folk, Celtic, power metal and just the right balance of light and dark. The evolution of LE’s sound echoes, throughout, while retaining their signature trademarks. It’s boosted, by the orchestral choral sections. So starkly delivered, at full throttle speed and volume. The strength builds, throughout, staying consistently affecting, in every note. Ending with a drum blast and tolling bell, as strong as the intro, ‘RODW’ is a glass-shatteringly acute and imaginative journey through the looking glass and deep into the magical forest.

10/10 ********** Jenny Tate

Release Date: March 22nd 2024

FFO: Nightwish, Amaranthe, Epica

Location: Germany

Four years after bringing “The Last Viking” to Valhalla with their previous opus, Leaves’ Eyes resurrect with “Myths Of Fate” to celebrate their 20th year of existence. With their ninth studio album, the Germany-based artists consolidate their leading position in the symphonic metal universe. Powerful, epic and impressive – Leaves’ Eyes once again merge traditional metal genres by fusing elements of folk, gothic, and classical music into a captivating sonic masterpiece.

Order the album here at this link: https://shop.afm-records.de/leaves-eyes/

Leaves’ Eyes were founded in 2003 and have always benefited from the union of diverse musical talents under the leadership of mastermind Alexander Krull (vocals, songwriting, production). Finnish singer Elina Siirala brings her classically trained soprano voice into contrast with the heavy guitars of Micki Richter and Luc Gebhardt. In charge of rhythm is Joris Nijenhuis on drums. In their multifaceted discography, Leaves’ Eyes naturally integrate various genres such as folk metal, Viking metal or symphonic metal into their unique sound creations. Legendary releases like “Vinland Saga” (2005) or “Njord” (2009) made them pioneers in their own league, a position they successfully confirmed with chart-breakers like “King Of Kings” (2015) or “Sign Of The Dragonhead” (2018). Their compositions are complex, though, always well balanced between heaviness and melodic atmosphere. Each of their mind-broadening lyrical concepts based on medieval mythology are thoroughly researched, offering their audience journeys to the past times of Vikings, myths and sagas.

In addition, Leaves’ Eyes made a name for themselves as a multimedia band of superlatives that captivates all of their followers’ senses. Lavishly produced, their high-class music videos, directed by Alexander Krull, expand the band’s storytelling to a visual aspect of superior quality. Their connection and appreciation for Viking re-enactment groups even led to the impressive feature-length documentary film “Viking Spirit” (2020) that delves deeper into the magical world explored on the band's albums. Moreover, Leaves’ Eyes are renowned for their breath-taking live performances. Metal fans around the world experienced the charismatic and energetic stage presentation. Set in font of monumental backdrops such as huge Viking ships or life-sized Nordic monuments, Leaves’ Eyes set new standards for captivating metal concerts.

With “Myths Of Fate” Leaves’ Eyes once again set sails for new winds that definitely blow from the harsh shallows of the symphonic metal genre. The fantastic world of legends from Norse and Eastern European mythology is the setting for monumental entertainment. “The early Middle Ages were a fascinating time of change. Some of these innovations have left their mark around the globe and continue to impact our modern world”, tells Alex, who created the lyrical concept. Leaves’ Eyes open up a world of magical places, spellbound weapons or supernatural creatures. With the first single and opening track “Forged By Fire” they raise the magic sword of Tyrfing. In a bombastic double bass blaze, they tell from a deadly weapon crafted and cursed by dwarfs to bring misery over its bearers. “These legends always reflected the real-life horrors of those who told them, making them even relatable to modern events of wars and fights”, Alex on his inspiration for the song’s lyrical concept. The medieval hymn “Realm Of Dark Waves” pulls us down into ocean’s desolate depths of Rán, the Goddess of the Sea. The solid neck-breaker about the sea maiden wife of Ægir is lyrically linked to other Leaves’ Eyes hit classics about maritime gods, like “Njord” or “Nine Wave Maidens”, rounding off the artist’s entire oeuvre.

Band line up: Elina Siirala (Vocals), Alexander Krull (Vocals), Micki Richter (Guitar, Bass), Luc Gebhardt (Guitar), Joris Nijenhuis (Drums)

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