ELVELLON – Ascending in Synergy

“Where dreams unite with metallic power” (NR)

After their album debut “Until Dawn” in 2018, it’s now time for the second release from the rising symphonic metal band Elvellon from Germany. “Ascending in Synergy” is the first album to be released on Napalm Records on 17 May 2024. Join Elvellon on an exciting journey between childlike wonder and hard-hearted bitterness.

Ascending in Synergy

Unbound

The opener of the album starts as symphonic as you would expect from a serious symphonic metal band. It’s orchestral intro and background choir lead straight into an unexpectedly hard guitar riff for the best of it. Guitars and keyboards form the backbone of “Unbound” and ensure that the female vocals lead but don’t dominate the song. Very catchy and makes you want more!

A Vagabond’s Heart

The second song sounds even more catchy. Well, nothing wrong with it, nice and dramatic intro, perfect vocals, what more do you want? More orchestral stuff? You get it in the middle part! ”A Vagabond’s Heart” is the perfect explanation of symphonic metal.

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My Forever Endeavour

For a change, flutes at the beginning lead to guitar riffs and keyboard sounds. Although the first two songs were not slow at all, “My Forever Endeavour” seems to be a bit faster. Or is it just a feeling created by the very driving drums? Check it out and let me know what you think!

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Ocean of Treason

Back to pure orchestration! But the drums take over and “Ocean of Treason” becomes a thunderstorm on the sea. Not for the faint-hearted and much heavier than usual for symphonic metal. I seem to love this song with its overwhelming speed.

The aftermath of life

We don’t slow down much with “The Aftermath Of Life”, but it’s much more orchestral than the previous track. Did I mention the excellent vocals? No, I think not. There are not many vocalists, even in this genre, who can sing at such a high level.

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Last of our Kind

Now it is time to really slow down. A piano plays a sentimental melody, violin and cello join in, drums, acoustic guitar build the sustain and the vocals lead us through “Last of our Kind” almost as if nomen est omen. It is becoming very dramatic in the middle part which leads into a kind of repetition of the intro. The song invites to dream away and forget about the boring everyday life because it gives hope. It is a song that is very different from all the others on the album. If you listen carefully, you will hear the many breaks and harmony changes. With “Last of our Kind”, Elvellon have, according to their own statement, broken a lot of new ground.

Into the vortex

We get a bit rough again… The guitar does its brutal deeds to defeat the keyboard. Mysterious vocals take over and control the journey “Into the Vortex”. Don’t be afraid, you won’t drown. The orchestration will save you at the last minute!

A Divine Legacy

The second shortest song starts with a piano intro, then the guitar takes over and leaves “A Legacy Divine” in the hands of once again wonderful vocals. And hey, there is a cool guitar solo in between all the orchestration. By the way, second shortest still means 4:30 minutes…

The Aeon Tree

Between the two shortest songs, we enjoy the longest one with almost ten minutes. But what does length mean? A bad song can bore you after one too long minute, a good song can last forever on repeat. “The Aeon Tree” builds up slowly and very epic. It is very narrative, even more so than the other tracks on Ascending in Synergy. We even hear the voice of the male narrator during a short interlude! And I can tell you, it is amazing how short minutes can be. Symphonic Metal at its best.

Epiphany of Mine

The shortest song starts with a guitar riff and a choir takes over. “Epiphany of Mine” is “only” four minutes long. I grew up in a time when four minutes was the length of the longest song… It is a perfect closer and in a short time it sums up what makes a good song.

The summary

After about 60 minutes of fantastic symphonic metal, it is time for a summary. As so often, I could write another 10,000 boring and self-repeating words, but I’ll make it as short as possible. I had no expectations when I listened to Ascending in Synergy for the first time, as I had never heard of Elvellon before they were signed to Napalm Records. But I always like, or rather prefer, to listen to relatively unknown, fresh bands rather than the established ones.  So congratulations! Well done, Elvellon! You don’t have to hide behind well-known symphonic giants and I’m very sure that soon you will be as well known as them and you will magically attract the audience. Read our interview with Nele and Gilbert one day before the album release soon. They have a lot to say!

Short facts

 Ascending in Synergy

 

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Online:

Elvellon

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Proof-reading by DeepL