Wyrd

I really don't get the hate people have for this album. Sure the first album was alright, but this? This is gold right here. The new(well, not anymore) vocalist (Kleid?) has a really unique voice that just makes me happy, instead of Damnagoras, who is the Alexi Laiho of the metal world, an annoying singer that gets on my nerves repeatedly. So, what about this album? By golly, it's the nicest piece of mozzarella you will ever hear!

Wyrd isn't unique by any means. It's cheesy, it's jolly, it's power metal with a dash of folk, so what? But, the thing that Elvenking managed to do so well is the fact that these folk influences work. Starting with the song "Pathfinders," you know what this album is about, a healthy dose of soaring choruses, inspirational lyrics about a "spring in bloom," crunchy riffs that make you want to jig, and a vocalist who just sounds perfect. It's a great opener to an album, and it just gets better. "The Perpetual Knot" is probably one of the catchiest pieces of art I have ever heard. The violin intro and solo is really spot on, and Kleid really sings his heart out on this song, out rivaling in anything Damnagoras has sung in any of their next albums. My personal favorite, "The Midnight Circus," is a speedy, yet emotional song with some very nice riffs. Emotional due to the fact that Kleid almost sounds like he is weeping when he sings "It grabs our soul if there is one!" And of course, you have the obligatory epic, "A Poem For the Firmament," a 12 minute song that begins with a delightful acoustic ballad, and dives into some fantastic rhythms and melodies.

Of course, the weak side of the cd are the annoying choirs, which I know are used to enhance some of the songs, but they're grating and got on my nerves very quickly. Also, where is the bass? It was not audible at all, and if employed correctly, I think this could have gotten a higher score. But I digress, Wyrd is a delightful little gem, a diamond in a cave of rocks and stones. Because my friends, this is the only album of Elvenking worth buying, due to the fact that Damnagoras comes back, and with him leading, it would seem Elvenking would be forgotten. Such a shame, they have so much potential.