The Umbersun (The Umbersun - Elend)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	The Umbersun - Elend
Date:	03/07/08 (14 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Effective symphonic balance between light and darkness.

Disadvantages: Yelled vocals sound out of place, and music is dull in places.

I'm a little out of my depth here, reviewing an apparent 'metal' band that refuses to display any traces of the genre by this point in their career. Elend's fourth album 'The Umbersun' is more accurately a neoclassical album, rooted in the classical tradition with the dynamic aesthetic of a modern film soundtrack, supplemented by angry spoken word narrating a tale of Lucifer in incomprehensible French (except, perhaps, to the French).

This is no symphonic metal band combining rock instruments with a supplementary orchestral backdrop, and not even a perfect fusion as happens on rare occasions with bands such as Haggard and Therion. Rather, this is a full-on orchestral assault that combines tranquil beauty and blaring aggression often within the same movement, utilising a large band and choir to their full extent. These songs are long and intricate, but often become a little dull as the action fades, requiring more patience than the average rock fan is experienced at demonstrating.

1. Du tréfonds des ténèbres
2. Melpomene
3. Moon of Amber
4. Apocalypse
5. Umbra
6. The Umbersun
7. In The Embrasure of Heaven
8. The Wake of the Angel
9. Au tréfonds des ténèbres

Summary: Elend's fourth album (1998).