Kerrang

Deathly debutants make mincemeat of the metal mould
THE FINNISH invasion is gathering pace, with seemingly endless stream of suberb bands making their mark on the underground metal scene. Vantaa residents Elenium are definitely one of the best, and most fiendishly creative, to emerge so far. Essentially this is progressive, melodic death metal, but with so many shades of darkness to be experienced, such restrictive terms seem superfluous.

With bursts of Opeth-like elegance (´Moments´), brutal metrical assaults (´Eye For A Lie´), inspired and intricate arrangements (´Subcreator´) and even brief sitar interlude (´Nameless - Faceless´), Elenium are plainly unafraid of experimenting with the staple ingredients of their sound, and are injecting everything they do with an exploratory spirit that promises to evolve into something quite extraordinary. A spectacular debut.

4 / 5

Dom Lawson