ALBUM REVIEW: Myths Of Fate – Leaves’ Eyes
Since the early 2000s, when symphonic metal began to evolve from a niche sub-genre into something the metal mainstream paid attention to, a number of bands have stayed the course by simply never going away. Acts like SIRENIA and XANDRIA, whose career highs are in the distant rear view, have weathered line-up changes to put out a bunch of new songs every few years which, if nothing else, is as good an excuse as any to hit the road again and serve up the hits. LEAVES’ EYES were gifted with Liv Kristine’s voice for 13 years, who sounds so singular she elevates everything she touches. She may best be known to the world for her guest appearance on CRADLE OF FILTH’s Nymphetamine, thus making her a Grammy nominee, and before LEAVES’ EYES she sang for goth metallers THEATRE OF TRAGEDY.
Like their peers who found success at the turn of the century, LEAVES’ EYES have consistently churned out perfectly competent records of standard symphonic metal fare. But, until 2016, they had Kristine’s voice to set them apart from the pack; a voice that wasn’t just capable, but was full of the kind of fantastical earnestness required to deliver lyrics about vikings and Nordic folklore and do for them what Peter Jackson had done for The Lord Of The Rings.
Which is not to downplay the talents of Elina Siirala, for whom Myths Of Fate is her third LEAVES’ EYES record. She is powerful where Kristine was ethereal, and is an appropriate fit to accompany the record’s modern chugging riffs. But the band have lost their USP, and the straight-forward songwriting has not filled the gap on this occasion. While Who Wants To Live Forever is one of the record’s tighter compositions, with an anthemic chorus that outshines much of what’s around it, it still suffers from what many songs here do: it’s too damn long. This is a record of good, but small, ideas lost within big structures. Most would benefit from shaving off 30 seconds, letting the melodies do the heavy lifting, and leaving the listener ready for another spin. Instead, most tracks overstay their welcome and drag the album’s pace to a halt.
But a real commendation has to go to epic closer Sail With The Dead. As if everything until that point had been a lesson in artistic restraint, the band let loose in every way you could want from them. It is full of imagination with unpredictable twists and turns, set to a slightly off-kilter time structure that gives it a distinct identity among too many tracks that have too much in common. Siirala brings the drama and the guitars come to life, like the rest of the album had been a warm up for this flourish. The band have still got it, they just pack it all into one standout climax.
Identity is the real issue here. Sail With The Dead is the kind of song bands are proud to attach their name to, packed with enough personality that fans can instantly go ‘that’s LEAVES’ EYES!’ But what about the rest? Their peers who found breakthrough success, like NIGHTWISH, WITHIN TEMPTATION, DELAIN, and EPICA, all forged their own path and, importantly, sound nothing like each other. Last year, BLACKBRIAR dropped their stunning second album, which was notable for all the ways it sounded like something only they could make, placing them at the forefront of the genre’s new class.
On Myths Of Fate, there is little to suggest LEAVES’ EYES are interested in breaking new ground or aiming for the next rung of the ladder. Songs like Einherjar have glimpses of the energy and urgency needed to leave more of an impression, and there are instances in Forged By Fire and Hammer Of The Gods that do bury their way into your head. But even they could be refined, they could be more daring, and LEAVES’ EYES could do more to deliver on the promise of Myths Of Fate’s best moments. What makes the record so frustrating is, based on a song like Sail With The Dead, it is clear they still have it in them.
Rating: 5/10
Myths Of Fate is set for release on March 22nd via AFM Records.
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