Elusion – The Fundamental Paradox

Elusion
The Fundamental Paradox
Label: Self-release
Out: January 13^th, 2023
Playing time: 42:23

Elusion were founded after Domingo Smets left his former band Ancient Rites. He started the songwriting on his own before singer Evy Verbruggen joined. Other band members were found. The debut EP “Desert Of Enticement” was released in 2016. Several gigs as support for Xandria, Welicoruss and other bands followed. In 2018, the band was able to sign a record deal with the Spanish label Art Gates Records. The result was the first album “Singularity”. Due to the Corona pandemic, a forced break in live performances ensured. However, the time was used intensively for writing and recording new songs. In January, “The Fundamental Paradox” was released on their own.

Untypical for the genre, the album starts without a bombastic intro. Instead, the Belgians really go wild right from the start with “…In Love And War”. And Evy Verbruggen not only masters the clear vocals, but also the evil growls. This continues with the heavy riffs at the beginning of “Chiaroscuro”. During the chorus you can hear epic choruses. But otherwise Evy celebrates the interplay of “Beauty and the Beast” in personal union here as well. In “Acrimonious”, elements of High Speed and Thrash Metal discreetly flow in. Now and then, slight dissonances can be heard in the clear vocals. The whole thing is accompanied by strings, but they don’t push themselves into the foreground. “Adversity” starts ballad-like for a short time, but soon Elusion shift into a harder mode. “Science – Fiction” is then Classic Power Metal, driven by some double bass attacks and fast riffs. “From The Woods To The Water” starts with high mythical sounding vocalises. Later, calm riffs set in. Instrumentation and choruses provide a strong Folk Rock edge. Even though it’s not a real ballad, this song sets a quiet point on the album. My absolute favourite, especially because it deviates significantly from the previous Power Metal sound. But then “In Balance” really takes off again. The longest song on the album has a progressive touch thanks to melody and rhythm changes. This is additionally strengthened by the guitar solos.  Piano, strings and epic choruses then introduce “Isochronism”. Later, the power ballad becomes a bit more powerful. At the very end, it gets really hard again. Massive riffs are fired off in “Deafening Silence”. And Evy once again shows her evil side with the deep growls, which offer an impressive contrast to the clear vocals.

It’s often the smaller and lesser-known bands that set new impulses. This is also the case with Elusion. They play Symphonic Metal, but use the bombast very rarely and mostly put more emphasis on heavy riffs, melodic but definitely Metal guitar work and powerful drumming. Add to that a singer who feels at home with both mezzo-soprano and growls. All this makes “The Fundamental Paradox” extremely worth listening to.

Elusion – …In Love and War (Lyric Video): https://youtu.be/1KdGZF9cdMs

Lineup:

Evy Verbruggen – Vocals
Domingo Smets – Guitar
Frederik Van Mieghem – Drums

Track list:

• …In Love And War
• Chiaroscuro
• Acrimonious
• Adversity
• Science/Fiction
• From The Woods To The Water
• In Balance
• Isochronism
• Deafening Silence