Leaves’ Eyes – Myths Of Fate

Leaves’ Eyes
Myths Of Fate
Label: AFM Records
Out: March 22^nd, 2024
Playing time: 49:52

How time flies. It’s been almost four years already. That’s when the German Symphonic Metal band Leaves’ Eyes released their latest album “The Last Viking”. In the meantime, however, one of the two masterminds Thorsten Bauer has left the band. The songwriting now rests solely on the shoulders of singer and producer Alexander Krull. Naturally, this album was once again produced at Mastersound Studio. Five videos were produced for this album in co-operation with Mastersound Entertainment, filmed in Iceland, Germany and Poland, among other places. So, as usual, Leaves’ Eyes don’t mess around, they go all out. Of course, I wanted to hear whether all the effort was worth it.

With “Forged By Fire”, Leaves’ Eyes get off to their usual bombastic start with lots of orchestration. And Elina Sirala once again impresses with her vocal performance. Counterpart Alexander Krull also brings his growls back into play. So everything as usual? It seems to remain with the turn towards pure Symphonic Metal, or rather it is intensified. With lyrics that build a bridge to Nordic mythology. This continues on “Realm Of Dark Waves”. Celtic elements are incorporated here. But the basic orientation is still Symphonic Metal. After the initially whipping drums, the song moves into the mid-tempo range. Riffs dominate this song. Epic choruses are added from time to time, albeit extremely discreetly. A song that manages without growls. Just like later ones. But it has a great guitar solo as the crowning glory. “Who Wants To Live Forever” is also somewhat calmer. Rhythmic drumming characterises the sound. And of course the beguiling vocals again. “Hammer Of The Gods” is once again based on Nordic mythology. After a calm introduction, a powerful orchestration provides an epic touch. But the mid-tempo range is not abandoned again. Not even during the discreetly interspersed growls. “In Eternity” is somewhere between a power ballad and a mid-tempo rocker. Here, Elina can show that she also feels comfortable in the middle vocal range. “Fear The Serpent” also starts ballad-like. Later, you can hear pleasing Melodic Metal. Strings can be heard on the ballad “Goddess Of The Night”, which adds a Folk edge. Does “Sons Of Triglav” have anything to do with Nordic mythology? Triglav is the highest mountain in the Slovenian Alps. The name means something like “three-headed”. However, Triglav probably also refers to the warming gaiters used by the Vikings in the far north. Anyway, battle chants are intoned. Nordic Folk influences can be heard here again. “Elder Spirit” is the next (power) ballad on the album. The warriors who died in battle are commemorated with “Einherjar”. But contrary to expectations, the song has more of a positive, almost joyful mood. The entrance to Valhalla can probably be described as an honour. The song title “Sail With The Dead” also fits in with this. Here it becomes combative again, even in the epic choruses, which are vaguely reminiscent of battle chants. Together with the orchestration, this provides a lot of epicness at the end.

Although all the trademarks of Leaves Eyes can be heard again on “Myths Of Fate”, it still seems a little too well-behaved to me. Singer Elina Sirala is once again in top form. And the “Beauty and the Beast” interplay can be heard again and again.  And fortunately, it is not overused. Epic orchestrations and choruses, beautiful melodies, good guitar solos and riffs. However, the Nordic Folk Metal elements no longer stand out as much as on earlier albums. The sound also seems less powerful to me, especially the riffing. As a result, it took me a few listens to get used to the album. For future albums, I would like to see a return to earlier years, more Nordic-dominated Metal, more pressure and a little less Symphonic.

Track list:

• Forged by Fire
• Realm of Dark Waves
• Who Wants to Live Forever
• Hammer of the Gods
• In Eternity
• Fear the Serpent
• Goddess of the Night
• Sons of Triglav
• Elder Spirit
• Einherjar
• Sail with the Dead