A decade into their career it would be fair to say that I have been able to take or leave Elvenking even though Boy the Elder loves them and plays them incessantly. Has that changed with the release of The Scythe? You bet your life it has for, make no mistake about it the Italian quintet have recorded the best album of their Epic Power Metal lives. From start to end this is a joy to behold with not a weak link in sight – it’s almost as if they have been building up to this moment. Natural justice suggests that this should be the album to really push Elvenking towards stardom.  

As I’m typing Lost Hill of Memories is paying, so we may as well start there, as this one mixes death metal grunts, super melodies and a pounding beat to create a powerful treat for the listener. Infection sounds like a cross between Lordi and Turisas and, as insane as it sounds, it works brilliantly. These are preceded by the opener and title song The Scythe which is utterly splendid and, as all good opening tracks should, leaves the listener wanting more. 

Poison Tears is a bewildering mix of thrash and almost punk styles before the violin solo mixes with grunts to take the song somewhere else entirely – fabulous! A Riddle of Stars emphasizes the band’s folk tendencies at the start but is, in reality, a great song with a magnificent chorus and it is the choruses which have improved since the band’s last outing The Winter Wake  - there is even a Springsteen-esque, “Huh,” thrown in for good measure! A special mention must go to Aydan for his wonderful guitar work on the album as a whole, but on this track in particular. 

Romance and Wrath also showcases Aydan’s prowess, as indeed does the melodic power metal of The Divided Heart. Totentanz (which my GCSE standard German suggests means Dance of the Dead) slows things down and is acoustic in style with added narration. Death and the Suffering’s aggression comes as somewhat of a shock initially, but it’s so much fun that one can’t help but be dragged along as the thrash and power metal genres collide before the CD ends with Dominhate (can you see what they did there?) Dominhate motors along at a fair old pace and has a suitably epic chorus to round things off. 

If like me, you’ve never been bitten by the Elvenking bug previously then perhaps The Scythe could turn you on to the band as it is a first class album.

Let us know your views on The Scythe

 Track Listing

The Scythe
Lost Hill of Memories
Infection
Poison Tears
A Riddle Of Stars
Romance & Wrath
The Divided Heart
Horns Ablaze (Bonustrack)
Totentanz
Death And The Suffering
Dominhate

Line Up

Damnagoras - Vocals
Aydan - Guitars
Elyghen - Violin/Keyboards
Gorlan - Bass
Zender - Drums