Life sometimes takes strange paths. The idea that simple misunderstandings or slips can prevent events, or how independent actions can lead to a beautiful outcome, is quite a striking thought. A beautiful example of this is the album "Relief By The Sun" by the band "Elizium", as I almost missed out on enjoying this record. Why that would have been absolutely terrible will be explained in the following lines, even if my emotional level is about as interesting as a lecture on the theory of relativity... given in an elementary school.
My loyal but somewhat dim-witted Windows Media Player tells me it’s "Heavy Metal". It may not be entirely my thing, I thought, but I generally do like metal. Especially when it’s really well done. But as soon as I hit "Play", the first song "War In Heaven" blasts out at me, and I’m genuinely astonished. Violin-like sounds form the intro, deep drums can be heard in the background, building up a very dense atmospheric tension. The moment the vocals start, I look again in disbelief at the genre. It still says "Heavy Metal". I knew it right away: This damn technology today makes things more difficult! Because the vocals are anything but "Heavy Metal"; I would really classify it as "beautiful". Not that I wouldn’t also find the beer-stinking grunting of metal bands beautiful, but the singer truly knows how to use his craft in a "gentle" and damn melancholic way. Perhaps "Gothic Metal" would be more appropriate? The instruments also play along nicely: A dull and deep drum that isn’t too loud and is rather heard in the background, the use of a synthesizer, and gently played string instruments. Everything fits together wonderfully, and the sounds essentially push the voice to the forefront. Awesome, because that’s exactly where it belongs! The effect is further enhanced by the fact that the sound has been treated with some "reverb", giving an impression of distance and vastness.
Similarly awesome are the titles that follow: "Nevermore" really lets you hear small metal fragments (which are otherwise finely scattered throughout the album), expressed in the form of deep vocals that are very fittingly embedded between the vocal passages. The guitar also sounds darker and harder and strangely underscores the desperate piece quite well. How do they do that? A somewhat hard sound to a desperate vocal? Well, I shouldn’t care: It sounds great, and that’s what counts.
Of course, I could also mention more titles to list their wonderful characteristics and peculiarities, but somehow this chain would then stretch endlessly through the entire album. I really couldn’t decide which one to highlight, as I genuinely like ALL the songs, which is extremely rare. It’s really a shame that there are only 11 pieces on this album, as I could easily handle much more from this band.
Stylistically, "Elizium" is hard to categorize: Even though I can hear a bit of Rammstein (hard guitars and keyboards are also part of the Berliners), they play completely in their own style. The singer seems not just to sing but to "call out" in desperation; all the instruments are very dreamy and slow (almost dragging), which sounds incredibly cool in combination with the singer! While, for example, "Fliehende Stürme" gives off a desperate "murmur", "Elizium" rides on a track where you want to call your despair into the endless void to listen to a black echo. The style (melancholic rock) may be similar, but the manner of delivery is entirely different... and yet it’s brilliantly done!
Lyrically, the metalheads make no secret of their stance: It’s about loneliness, death, and helplessness (the look at the front cover reveals everything you need to know). Be it the piercing loneliness and coldness within oneself, the death of a loved one, or a horror scenario painted in all its details: If you were to throw everything into a large, rusty pot, simmer it at about 180°C for 25 minutes (not longer, or it’ll turn into screamo!), this album would come out. You get the melancholy club directly in the face!
However, it must be said that this rating reflects my current opinion and not my first impression. At first, I didn’t know what to make of it, as the entry into this album was as tough as years-old chewing gum stuck under my school desk. You really have to allow yourself to get into the five melancholics to recognize their true core. However, anyone who brings this patience and appreciates this genre of music will have true joy with "Relief By The Sun" and gradually understand why I’m incensing here in a forest fire scale.
For me personally, this album is a personal highlight and one of the best records I’ve had the pleasure of hearing this year. Just imagine that due to a small mishap, I might never have gotten to hear these sounds... a dreadful thought, especially since I have already truly embraced this album. And I’m sure that fans of this genre will feel the same way.
What are you waiting for, damn it? Listen!
