ALBUM REVIEW: The Last Viking – Leaves’ Eyes

Do you visit websites like this for insightful reviews of new music? Well, consider this historical lecture a bonus. Everyone in Britain knows the story of the Norman invasion in 1066 but what is often overlooked is that just before William The Conqueror turned up, the Norwegians had a go too. They were defeated by the Saxons at the Battle Of Stamford Bridge and the death of their King – Harald Hardrada – is widely considered by professional historians to be the end of the Viking age. Harald might not be as well-known as some of the other figures from that period, but one group who haven’t ignored him are LEAVES’ EYES.

The Viking-obsessed German band have written an entire album about him and like the man itself, its big. It’s a grandiose and over the top record, full of po-faced symphonic metal and over an hour long. This is not the tongue-in-cheek fun of BROTHERS OF METAL or BEAST IN BLACK, it’s deadly serious. This album has a better education than most of our writing staff and could only be more self-important if it refused to play until you put a tuxedo on.

Let’s not forget though that sometimes being pretentious can be rewarding. Who doesn’t love eating a fettucine dinner that costs an entire month’s wages before spending a night looking at a stage through a tiny pair of binoculars on a stick? LEAVES’ EYES are metal at its poshest and The Last Viking is a welcome addition to their discography.

Singer Elina Siirala for instance has grown into a confident and self-assured focal point. There was a touch of the rabbit in the headlights about her when she first joined the band, but with two albums and an EP under her belt she now commands respect. Her voice is formidable and it’s very disappointing to find she didn’t record this while standing atop a Scandinavian cliff, singing into a raging storm. She lends a classical, dignified air to the likes of Chain Of The Golden Horn and has earned her place behind the mic.

In fact, it’s only when LEAVES’ EYES make concessions to the cavemen in the audience that The Last Viking suffers. There are moments where they crossover into death metal territory, but they don’t quite work. This seems odd given the involvement of Alexander Krull from ATROCITY, but the heavier parts don’t hit with as much force as they should. His vocals sound flat compared to Siirala’s and LEAVES’ EYES don’t handle the ominous, brutally heavy sequences as well as their more orchestral counterparts.

Don’t let that put you off though as The Last Viking has plenty to recommend. War Of Kings and Serpents And Dragons should both fit well into their live shows, plus there’s a guest appearance from Clementine Delauney [VISIONS OF ATLANTIS] to make symphonic enthusiasts happy. For Victory is a blood and thunder war song crossed with Andrew Lloyd Webber, while Varangians is a pint-raising, folksy number.

The unconvincing death metal is problematic yes, and so is the overwhelming sense that the album is better than you. This isn’t heavy music for mosh pits in dingy clubs, it belongs in the Royal Albert Hall or at the BBC Proms. Polite applause only chaps, no crowd surfing. Invest in a nice bottle of wine, invite your snootiest friends over and make an evening of it. It’s not entirely successful, but The Last Viking is a fitting tribute to a bearded giant of the Viking age who is said to have towered over other men.

Rating: 7/10

The Last Viking is set for release on October 23rd via AFM Records.

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