Search - :: The Last Moment

From Down Under the third mournful opus of ELEGEION reaches me. Going back to their Doom roots after a Blackish second album; The Last Moment is a sad and beautiful piece of art. The band formed around mastermind Anthony play Doom Metal, drenched in a gothic and romantic atmosphere.



KATATONIA comes to mind when hearing the depressive riffs, but where that band captivates you with its nihilistic atmosphere, ELEGEION is much more romantic, highly accentuated by the violins and emotional guitar leads. Important factor in the bands music is also the angelic voice of Dieudonne; while I dub her voice as angelic she is definitely different from the common Gothic Metal vocalist, also commonly described as angelic. Dieudonnes voice is frail, yet crystal clear, reminding me both of Astrid van der Veen (AMBEON) and even some Norah Jones. Shes always melancholic and never sings too fast or high, extremely befitting for the music. This is best shown on the beautiful, almost tear jerking ballad Scars.



The opening title track already delivers everything ELEGEION are about, slow hypnotizing riffs, haunting classical arrangements, in particular the violin, which, in my opinion cant be used enough in Doom Metal. Anthony also uses a growl here which works well with Dieudonnes voice, but they never create the by now clichéd beauty and the beast effect.



Songs like this one and Confusion are mixed with ballads like Scars and Taste where Dieudonne and her piano + the violin take the main role. And while the latter balances on the edge of what can be called Metal they fit in perfect with the aesthetic created by Anthony and his band. A beautiful album which should be enjoyed alone, with plenty of time afterwards, you wont feel rushed listening to this, but rather would like to refill your glass of wine and make another journey through the bands depressed world. (Online November 29, 2005)