Elixir are back. The NWOBHM crew are back together with most of the original line-up and with latest album Voyage of the Eagle they’ve not lost a step.
It’s a monster. All the NWOBHM influences are present as is a modern twist with instantly accessible, most enjoyable songs. Don’t miss it.
It’s a sort of concept album with the songs linked telling the tale of a ship’s voyage way back when going for a few beers with your mates would likely end up with you being ending up in the navy or part of a ship’s crew (a.k.a being “press ganged”).
And that’s how things start here with Drink to the Devil and Press Ganged. Storming heavy rockers with the big licks, a bit dark (atmospheric given the subject matter) yet melodic and catchy too. The lyrics tell the tale so well too – you can imagine yourself in the tavern (as pubs were called a few hundred years ago) having a couple too many as the press gang stormed in.
Then you’re off to sea wondering what happened and staring in to nothing but ocean. Horizons is a quiet reflective piece that leads into The Siren’s Song which slows the pace with a sludgy doom-laden feel, which fits well as the legendary Sirens were said to lure a borderline insane crew on to the rocks to their peril as they hallucinated after too long at sea.
Sail On varies things some more with an almost “power ballad” tinge to it and proper nify guitar work and more strong vocals from Paul Taylor.
Mutiny (self-explanatory) is another brooding, dark, heavy affair as the crew starts to bubble over. Again, you can picture yourself there. It’s all so well done.
Elixir switch up the styles again for Whisper on the Breeze. A brooding melodic rocker twisting and turning between the mellow bits and some blistering guitar.
Then the closer – and perhaps the stand out on an album with no weak spots anywhere – Evermore.
It all comes together here and how. A slow intro builds in a crescendo of big chords and anthemic vocals (I defy you not to shout along with Taylor as he blasts out Evermore). Check out the mid-section as the guitars of Phil Denton and Norman Gordon trade off each other not unlike Messers Gorham and Robertson used to do. Thumping drums and bass too from Nigel Dobbs and Luke Fabian.
Heck: Have a listen. Here is Evermore:
After debuting with Son of Odin back in the mid-1980s, Elixir’s career didn’t go as anticipated though they did continue to put out albums every now and again.
Now with Voyage of the Eagle and most of the original line-up back in the fold they show they are right up there. The album is superb. Make no mistake. Yet again – the New Wave of British Heavy Metal is as relevant as it was forty years ago and bands like Elixir keep up that tradition exceptionally well.
It’s early May 2020 as I write this – and I can say right here right now that Voyage of the Eagle is so good it’s album of the year material.
>> ELIXIR VOYAGE OF THE EAGLE AVAILABLE HERE <<
Do check out the interview with Elixir guitarist Phil Denton we arranged recently. You can read it here.
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