Here it is, the new and third album of Liechtenstein band ELIS. It is their most sophisticated and matured record but now and tragically the legacy of singer Sabine Dünser, who passed away shortly after she had recorded her vocal parts. Griefshire is her epic monument left for the livings, friends, band and fans, keeping her in mind with a heart bleeding but ears pleasured with great tunes. Too bad she cannot enjoy the success of this album anymore, but maybe she does though…
Griefshire is part of a concept, which tells the story of two brothers, religious delusion, the quest of salvation and the longing for love and truth. A perfect background for a gothic metal album I’d say. For that the band and producer did not spare any pains and draw on plentiful resources. A really phat and powerful guitar sound creates the foundation together with a driving rhythm section of Griefshire. Built up upon string elements add a symphonic and heroic character to the music. Natural instruments, a harp and sublime choirs set accents, while guitar solos hint at the aimed metal approach. Over all of course Sabine’s voice is waving; not too high-pitched, powerful and harmonious, quite often layered to add more depth and volume. But I have to confess that I several times got reminded of Leaves Eyes since both vocal harmonies are quite similar. Pounding tracks like the opener Tales From Heaven Or Hell or Remember The Promise and The Burning get stuck in your ears. Here ELIS prove that they have upgraded their own dose of heaviness. Despite of the epical width of these songs, they are still driving and fast with a significant approach of aggressiveness. The two German sung tracks Die Stadt and Seit dem Anbeginn der Zeit might first offer an uncomfortable feel in your ears, and astound with almost foreboding text lines, but they do not disturb the harmonious flow and so set even more accents. Show Me The Way again can be handled as the album’s single. It indeed really pleasures with pounding guitar riffing that will probably everybody make headbanging, but for the rest it was made for the masses. Also sweet and sickly gothic pathos ELIS did not want to set aside as ballads such as How Long and Forgotten Love prove. Though, Griefshire closes emphatically heavy.
ELIS actually have released a well-done album that stands out a bit of the already hackneyed gothic/metal genre.