Leaves' Eyes - Njord
I do get a little nervous when I receive an album with an accompanying bio claiming that this is a new masterpiece. I’ll be the judge of that, thank you very much. I got nothing against being all excited about your new record, but come on man! I can’t remember Iron Maiden stating, here’s a new masterpiece and it is called Number of the Beast. I know bands nowadays have a hard time gaining attention in the overcrowded music world. From their website I also learned that there will be a special release which will include a model of a Viking ship. Do you really need to do this? Leaves’ Eyes is by no means an unknown force. The sextet revolving around Liv Kristine does have a good position within the symphonic Gothic Rock/Metal genre.
On Njord, Leaves’ Eyes continues the tales about Nordic mythology. Once again, Liv Kristine’s love for her native Norway shines throughout the compositions. The song titles strike an epic tone: ‘Northbound’, ‘Frøya’s Theme’, ‘Ragnarok’. All of them don’t really explore new grounds and how can they? Nordic mythology has been a part of hardrock and metal since Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song from 1970. To come up with something fresh and unexplored on that theme is impossible.
On Njord, Leaves’ Eyes continues the tales about Nordic mythology. Once again, Liv Kristine’s love for her native Norway shines throughout the compositions. The song titles strike an epic tone: ‘Northbound’, ‘Frøya’s Theme’, ‘Ragnarok’. All of them don’t really explore new grounds and how can they? Nordic mythology has been a part of hardrock and metal since Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song from 1970. To come up with something fresh and unexplored on that theme is impossible.
The same goes for the music, nowadays there are so many female led metal bands it is hard to come up with something outstanding. Despite the use of a choir and the Lingua Mortis Orchestra conducted by Victor Smolski of Rage I don’t hear something really extraordinary. That said I must say Alexander Krull has done and outstanding job producing this. Instrumentally everything falls right into place. Only Kristine’s vocals could have been put more forward in the mix. Njord is not a masterpiece, it is well done and fans will love this.
78/1001Details Napalm Records
Released on Friday Aug 28th, 2009
Gothic metal/Symphonic metal
Writer @Angel on Wednesday Sep 9th, 2009
Tags: #Leaves' Eyes
Tracklisting
1. Njord
2. My Destiny
3. Emerald Island
4. Take the Devil in Me
5. Scarborough Fair
6. Through Our Veins
7. Irish Rain
8. Northbound
9. Ragnarok
10. Morgenland
11. The Holy Bond
12. Frøya's Theme
Bonus Digipak:
13. Landscape of the Dead
14. Les Champs de Lavande
2. My Destiny
3. Emerald Island
4. Take the Devil in Me
5. Scarborough Fair
6. Through Our Veins
7. Irish Rain
8. Northbound
9. Ragnarok
10. Morgenland
11. The Holy Bond
12. Frøya's Theme
Bonus Digipak:
13. Landscape of the Dead
14. Les Champs de Lavande
Line up
Liv Kristine – vocals
Thorsten Bauer – guitar
Mathias Röderer – guitar
Alexander Krull – vocals
Alla Fedynitch – bass
Seven Antonopolous – drums
Thorsten Bauer – guitar
Mathias Röderer – guitar
Alexander Krull – vocals
Alla Fedynitch – bass
Seven Antonopolous – drums