When the promotion campaign for Mænad had started, I did not pay much attention. That fully changed two months after the release of their debut, when E-L-R supported Amenra. But it was the performance at Prophecy Fest that put me under their spell. E-L-R in the Balve Cave was one hell of a phenomenal experience!

E-L-R tries to carve an own niche in the wide field of Doom, Post-whatever, Psychedelic and Shoegaze, competing with legions of other bands ranging in those area mixing and blending various styles and genres.
The Swiss trio operates with minimal instrumentation but stack loops and layers creating a dense cinematic soundscape. Synths, sounds and effects are rather discreetly used. Song structures again are quite common for this genre and sometimes too predictable.
Long instrumental passages, dynamics and melodies pile up slowly, repetitive riffwork and distinctive drumming create an intensive atmosphere of hypnotic power. Reverb-soaked vocals by guitarist S.M. and bass player I.R. I would rather describe as an additional sound effect than a lyrical message.
Mænad also features guest vocals by Amenra frontman Colin H. Van Eeckhout on Above The Mountains There Is Light and Dool's Ryanne van Dorst on Lunar Nights, both setting strong contrasts to the voices of S.M. and I.R. Especially Colin H. Van Eeckhout makes Above The Mountains There Is Light special, a highlight on this record. Colin also adds a hurdy gurdy to the opening track Glancing Limbs. The guitar changes seamlessly between clean and distorted parts, the bass however remains quite pale. The bass guitar indeed could have added more power and ferocity.

What I miss a little bit is the musical reference to the album title and music. Mænad does not really reflect the pleasurably ecstatic rapture, nor the furiousness maenads are known to go into. The listener rather reaches a meditative or mesmeric state, like put under a spell, which is, of course, much welcome too.
At the end the question raises what E-L-R actually means. The band itself keeps a low profile in this matter, also when it comes to personal data. Only abbreviations. It is meant to set focus on the music only. But especially that name mysticism rouses curiosity and thus at least distracts a bit of attention off the music.
To me Mænad is a wonderful record I love to listen to and let go. It is surely not innovative or genre-defining yet definitely leaves an impact. I like it!