Written: 17th March 2024
With over twenty years as a band behind them, Leaves’ Eyes can rightly be considered one of the stalwarts of symphonic metal. Four years after the release of The Last Viking, Leaves’ Eyes prepare to release their ninth album (and third with Elina Siirala as vocalist), Myths of Fate.
From the first cinematic strings, heroic chords and mythological lyrics of opening track Forged By Fire, Leaves’ Eyes draws the listener, once again, into a world of legend and magic. Tyrfing, sword of ancient might / Your magic shining bright / But deadly is the curse of the dwarfs. In Norse mythology, the Tyrfing sword was expertly forged by the dwarves, renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship, to be a weapon of unparalleled strength, which was gifted to Odin, recognising his status as a god. Elina Siirala’s soprano and Alexander Krull’s growling vocals intertwine as crunching guitars compete with thunderous drums from Joris Nijenhuis. A typically bombastic beginning to the album, Forged By Fire sets a familiar scene.
Realm of Dark Waves - which links to Leaves’ Eyes other maritime tracks such as Njord or Nine Wave Maidens – is told from the point of view of Rán - the goddess of the sea, describing her dominion over the sea and her power over the fates of those who traverse her waters. In the realm of dark waves / I long for you / Lead you into the depths / Of ocean blue / In the realm of dark waves / Sun never shines / Lost in eternal sleep / Your soul forever mine. Beginning with ominously dark choral voices, the introduction is then taken up by more melodical woodwind before the rest of the band join with double kick drums and driving bass guitar. Siirala’s often noticeable similarity in delivery to Tarja Turunen is particularly evident during the verses. A quieter more arcane moment three quarters of the way into Realm of Dark Waves (a tribute to the promise of adventure and the peril of the unknown) allows for some deeper contemplation of the theme, before a blistering guitar solo interrupts the calm, leading eventually to a key change and the final chorus. Full of symphonic metal tropes the album may be but Leaves’ Eyes know how to take full advantage of them.
Who Wants To Live Forever (about Iðunn, Norse Goddess of Youth) reduces the tempo a little, while increasing the use of sparkling keyboards during the early part of the track. Hammer of the Gods (along with album closer Sail With The Dead) harks back to classic Leaves’ Eyes tracks such as Hell To The Heavens with its varied multi-faceted sections including some exquisite vocal dexterity from Elina Siirala. It is a powerful evocation of mythology focusing on the themes of divine intervention, the struggle against overwhelming odds and the search for hope and freedom in a world full of challenges. Whispered legends they tell / Mjolnir never fails / The power of celestial light / Dispelling eternal blight / Striking fear into the hearts of giants / Thrud's face under the midnight sun.
Production on Myths of Fates is polished and well balanced with each element of the music given space to breathe. The mix balances the heavy and the heavenly, ensuring that the metal roots of Leaves’ Eyes are not lost beneath the orchestral layers. Multi-talented Jonah Weingarten contributed the impressive orchestral score that was created hand in hand with the metal arrangements. “A very inspirational process, where we both influenced each other creatively and metallized Jonah’s orchestral compositions,” Alex Krull raves.
While many of the tracks on the album begin with quieter introductions leading to the entire band joining soon after, there is some attempt to vary how the tracks begin. Fear The Serpent starts with gentle acoustic guitar before repeatedly building towards epically heroic choruses interspersed with some picturesque pastoral flourishes, and Goddess Of The Night features delightful contributions by Lea-Sophie Fischer (Eluveitie) on the fiddle. The latter of these is by far the most restrained and balladlike song on the album. Leaves’ Eyes know how to weave a tale and here they enchant the listener with spiritual and celestial textures. Sons of Triglav (Triglav is a Slavic three -headed god) and Einherjar return to the quest fuelled tracks for which the band are well known - with dynamic interplay between guitarists Micki Richter and Luc Gebhardt – however, on this album, Leaves’ Eyes aim to address the mystical and magical elements of the tales more deeply. “The early Middle Ages were a fascinating time of change. Some of these innovations have left their mark around the globe and continue to impact our modern world,” states band mastermind and singer Alexander Krull.
Written by Elina Siirala, In Eternity has a deeper personal meaning to the vocalist and the band. Inspired by Alexander’s late mother, it is a touching tale of enduring connection and the transformative power of love and memory, it suggests that even in the face of loss, these bonds continue to shape and strengthen us. Mid-paced and more inward looking than some of the other material, it serves as a comforting mantra, reinforcing the idea that the essence of what has been lost will always remain. I see the end in your eyes / Spirits call from the other side / I pray for strength, strength tonight / In dreams I feel your warmth / Buried and frozen the hell we fought / I pray for strength / Strength tonight.
Myths Of Fate is a well-structured offering from Leaves’ Eyes with no tracks outstaying their welcome. Without doubt, it features the strongest vocal performance from Elina Siirala since joining the band. On Elder Spirit, for example, there is a notably different vocal delivery style which makes a track that is more generic than most here instantly more interesting. Myths Of Fate does not truly explore areas the band have not visited many times before; however, they have crafted an album that is true to their roots while – two decades later - continuing to develop their ability for wonderfully arranged orchestral metal. Much thought has gone into the track listing and the variety in pace, tone and heaviness is well distributed across the album’s fifty minutes. Fans will definitely find the album to their liking and fans of symphonic metal unfamiliar with the band could do far worse than listen to this as an introduction to the band’s more recent work. A welcome addition to the band’s discography.
Myths Of Fate is released on 22nd March 2024
