Single review: ELVENKING – Rapture

AFM Records [release date: 14.12.22]

‘Rapture’ is the first trailer track / single from the forthcoming Elevenking (2023) album, Reader Of The Runes Part 2 (of 3).

The band’s fascination with backing vocals that are rooted in Gregorian chants and perhaps too, arguably, Orff’s Carmina Burana cantata are constant reminders that much of 21st century metal leans heavily on classical music.

‘Rapture’ is operatic in presentation. From its brief piano and choir overture to powerful, dominating lead vocals telling the story, punctuated by darkly theatrical backing vocals, sparingly used. All making way as the heavy metal axes launch, going from zero to hero in the blink of a jaundiced eye.

Lyrically, it continues a complex, but satisfying story concept. But you could almost brush that to one side because, musically it sounds like everything you could ever want from a Melodic Metal song. That also assumes you like the tones of a brisk hornpipe, dredged up from 17th century British theatre, weaving its way merrily through the heavy riffing and melodic chanting.

Heady stuff. ****

Review by Brian McGowan


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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

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Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

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