Concert Review: Leaves' Eyes (The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes - 14th March 2026)

Written: 15th March 2026

Following the very recent cancellation of Hard Rock Hell Spring Break, Leaves’ Eyes scheduled an almost last‑minute show at the Craufurd Arms in Milton Keynes. The timing of the announcement meant that the audience - while incredibly enthusiastic - is smaller than might typically be expected.

As the house lights are extinguished, the stage is bathed in white light with various Viking shields – decorated with dragonheads and warrior emblems – adding to the character of the scene. Despite the numbers in the crowd, from the first moments of the gig it is obvious that Leaves’ Eyes are going to give everything to their performance. They open with a rampant and stirring Chain of the Golden Horn which instantly leads to fists rising across the room, the crowd responding instinctively. Founding member and growling vocalist Alex Krull moves with an easy confidence, constantly drawing people in. With every moment, he makes it clear just how much each and every song means to him. The driving pulse of Hammer of the Gods - during which he demands an ocean of arms in the air - is a wonderful example of how he combines with soprano Elina Siirala to make Leaves’ Eyes such a spellbinding live band: Krull is formidable and authoritative, while Siirala is ethereal and crystalline.

Serpents and Dragons keeps the tempo high, and drummer Simon Skrlec sweeps across every inch of his kit, driving the rhythm forward and making the triumphant surge even more compelling. Leaves’ Eyes' songs often contain extremely quiet or reflective passages and even when Siirala whispers the words of the central section, every syllable can be heard. Throughout the evening, this is the case and it is pleasing to see such a respectful crowd determined to take in every note and word.

Following a short break for a technical issue with a guitar – during which Krull talks to the audience about how much their support over the years has meant to him  - Across The Sea embraces Leaves’ Eyes' penchant for maritime themes. Horns are raised and flow from side to side under Krull’s guidance.

With Edge of Steel, the sextet unveil the first song of the set to come from an album before Siirala was a member, in this case King of Kings. Some genuinely crunching riffs from long-time member Florian Ewert and new guitarist Luc Gebhardt display just how heavy the band can be. The delightful contrast between Elina’s radiant, floating vocals and Krull’s powerful growls is never more striking than when he bellows the words Edge of Steel. The crowd respond in kind and there is a clear, dynamic connection between us and the band which grows stronger with each passing song.

Photo credit: Karen White

Hall of the Brave is one of two songs from the recently released EP Song of Darkness (review here) – the other being the title track. Before the concert, I interviewed Elina and Alex and he named Hall of the Brave as a track that could easily be used to show what Leaves’ Eyes are all about and it is easy to see why. Combining symphonic, folk and Viking embellishment, it combines expansive, fast sections with introspective moments of brooding passion – all essential ingredients for a classic Leaves’ Eyes song. Who Wants To Live Forever and Song of Darkness - two songs sung entirely and beautifully by Siirala - bookend Sign of the Dragonhead. These two tracks give Krull the opportunity to step offstage to don, and later remove, full Viking attire - helmet, tunic, and sword - for a charismatic performance during Sign of the Dragonhead.

My Destiny from Njord is the oldest track we hear tonight and Elina Siirala – who has now been with the band for ten years – makes the track her own. Ahead of the folk‑infused Swords in Rock, the band keep the Viking revelry alive by passing out shots to the fans at the front. Ashok, handling bass duties for this tour, kicks the song off with a bold, rolling groove that feels equal parts battle‑stride and tavern celebration. It is a rhythm built for movement - impossible not to respond to. The main set ends with one of the best songs in the Leaves’ Eyes' discography – Hell to the Heavens. The reaction is instant: that opening swell lifts the room even further in a way only a truly beloved song can. Krull’s and Siirala’s vocals intertwine in majestic fashion and show why both are so integral to the band.

The band return for an encore featuring two songs from 2024’s Myths of Fate - Realm of Dark Waves and Forged by Fire, the latter being one of my favourite newer Leaves’ Eyes tracks. Before Forged by Fire begins, Krull tells us that they have travelled for fourteen hours with no sleep to reach the venue, yet onstage they perform with the energy and focus of a band stepping out on the first night of a tour. In reality, they have already been on the road across Europe following their appearance at 70,000 Tons of Metal, and the tightness that comes from that run is obvious: every cue is sharp, every shift lands cleanly. The band leave everything on the stage, and those who managed to make it to this late‑announced show know they have witnessed something special - a full‑blooded performance that justifies every effort to be here.

Setlist

Chain of the Golden Horn

Hammer of the Gods

Serpents and Dragons

Across The Sea

Edge of Steel

Hall of the Brave

Who Wants To Live Forever

Sign of the Dragonhead

Song of Darkness

My Destiny

Swords in Rock

Hell To The Heavens

Realm of Dark Waves

Forged By Fire