Eleine – We Stand United

Eleine
We Stand United
Label: RPM (Reigning Phoenix Music)
Out: September 5^th, 2025
Playing time: 18:18

When I reviewed ‘Dancing In Hell’ five years ago, Eleine were still a quartet. In the meantime, the band has shrunk to a trio, with two guitarists but without bass and drums. The core of the band are the two founding members, singer and namesake Madeleine Liljestam and guitarist / singer Rikard Ekberg. After the 2023 fourth album ‘We Shall Remain’, various singles were released. The EP ‘We Stand United’ will follow in September but only contains one new song. The press release starts with the strong words:

Empowering, brutal & captivating: Three strong words that describe the motivation behind the Swedish metal band ELEINE.

Let’s just leave it at that and listen to the music.

Well, I don’t really know, does a one-minute intro really have to be the beginning with such a short total playing time? And then one in which only sound effects can be heard. It would have been better to start with a short song. Or to start with the only new song, ‘We Stand United’. And it’s really good. This is where Eleine’s strengths really come into their own. An excellent mixture of hard-hitting Metal, epic bombast and the convincing voice of Madeleine Liljestam. In contrast to many of her colleagues, she sings powerfully and in the mid-range. She is occasionally supported by the growls of Rikard Ekberg. This is followed by ‘Never Forget’ and ‘We Are Legion’, two live recordings from the Masters Of Rock Festival 2024, where the Swedes demonstrate their live qualities. The symphonic version of ‘Promise Of Apocalypse’ (original on the album ‘We Shall Remain’, 2023) forms the finale. Madeleine’s vocals sound fragile. She convinces with great vocal diversity.

With only one new song, I have refrained from giving a rating. I hope and wish that this EP is a small musical appetiser for a full-length album that will be released later.

Eleine – Promise Of Apocalypse Symphonic Version: https://youtu.be/m_n5kDH892M?si=CT2YLOXp629n0Fil

Lineup:

Madeleine Liljestam – Vocals
Rikard Ekberg – Guitars, Vocals
Victor Jonasson – Guitars

Track list:

• Towards The Fields (Intro)
• We Stand United
• Never Forget (Live at Masters Of Rock 2024)
• We Are Legion (Live at Masters Of Rock 2024
• Promise Of Apocalypse (Symphonic Version)