Elysia - Lion Of Judas

FERRET MUSIC

June 11, 2008, 02:00 PM

This is the second full-length release from Sacramento, CA based metalcore kids Elysia. They have been together for 5 years, in which time they’ve been able to develop their punch you in the gut type, hardcore sound. But still only being in their very early 20’s these lads have got a lot of experience under their belt at a young age.

Instantly listening to this album I was able to define their sound very easily. It’s pretty much straight metalcore venturing more in to the underground scene, with the lack of any singing. This album sounds very similar to an early Bleeding Through and Eighteen Visions esq sound with a touch of converge thrown in. you can hear that Bleeding Through style straight from the off and although it is a good sound, it is somewhat straightforward and lacking in anything special.

The album is not a bad album but it’s not seminal. In a way this style of music can seem a little formulated, just chuck a fast circle pit riff in here, beat down there, half time riff here and a few rolling drum fills and it’s enough to keep the local hardcore kids happy. But is this album going to sell a major amount, I doubt it. It won’t do bad because this album has some good songs and the guys can actually play. I just don’t think that this album is interesting enough to take it to the next level.

In this genre there are a lot of bands and it’s very rare that one stands out and unfortunately Elysia isn’t anywhere near being predominant. So if you like this kind of sound I’d suggest waiting for the next bleeding through album, if it ever gets released. But for now as far as progression in this genre is concerned, Elysia are going backwards, just sounding like everything that’s been done before and that’s where they fall short. They don’t actually have a sound of their own and it’s easy to place the likenesses together. It is saddening to listen to a young band who are claiming so much and yet deliver such an average album.