Eleine are a Swedish symphonic metal band and this is their fourth album.
This is my first encounter with Eleine, and it’s a very favourable one. Playing a form of symphonic heavy metal with a distinctly high quality flavour and more metallic might than you might expect, We Shall Remain delivers 37 minutes of engaging music.
Bands of this ilk can sometimes neglect the metal in their sound, but not Eleine. It’s a welcome surprise to discover that Eleine’s guitars are heavy and crunchy, their drums full of power, and there’s also some scorching guitar solos. Yep, this is good stuff.
The symphonic elements are never too far away from the action, but aren’t overly ostentatious our distracting. They enhance, enrich, and provide emotive accents, and work very well because of this. Having said that, when they do need to take a more prominent role, they do so with a sense of epic majesty that’s well-earned.
The songs are well-written and arranged. Benefitting from anthemic songcraft executed with professional skill, this collection of songs is a very strong one. Anthemic singing and catchy choruses are ably backed up by muscular songwriting that leaves you in no doubt; Eleine are a metal band with bite, and We Shall Remain is packed with kicking heavy metal tunes. The album’s efficient and effective running time is perfectly judged, and I also like that there’s no real filler here, (with the exception of interlude track Vemod, but even that’s less than 60 seconds long and inoffensive enough, so it seems churlish to complain too much in this instance).
The vocals are accomplished and, despite the music’s strengths in its own right, the obvious focus of the music. Eleine are blessed with a very capable singer, who performs her role very ably indeed. She is a talented vocalist, and her voice is clear, powerful, and full of feeling. Accompanied by the cleans and growls of the band’s guitarist in key places, the overall package of quality vocals, good songwriting, and passionate musical performances make for an easily enjoyable listen.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Eleine, but it wasn’t an album as fun to listen to as this. We Shall Remain is basically a good, old-fashioned heavy metal album, with killer tunes and a heart of molten metal. I mean, what’s not to like?
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 