Death Metal can be said as the most fertile of all Metal genres, because it allows any kind of experiment that can be done: if one wants to stay in the limits of the past, playing Old School Death Metal, this one can do such thing without problems; if one wants to make something more experimental and Avant-garde, it can be done as well. What is demanded is that bands MUST HAVE a personality because no pimp Metal is allowed (no one pays for a clone, after all). And ELITIST shows it on “A Mirage of Grandeur” (the band’s first full-length) for sure. The Danish quartet is an adept of Old School Death Metal in many aspects, imposing and aggressive and brutal form of music influenced by North American acts as MORBID ANGEL, IMMOLATION, DEICIDE, MONSTROSITY and CANNIBAL CORPSE (some technical bass parts heard on “Propagating Suffering” and “Deluded Fallacies Spew from Rancid Mouths” show it clearly), with a very good technical work as well and charming rhythmic contrasts (as can be heard on “Vacuous Magnificence”).

But although they’re not into experimental models, some little Progressive Death Metal touches can be heard here and there. The band shows some naïve points, but they’re in the right track. The band delivered the responsibility of building the sonority of “A Mirage of Grandeur” to Lars Mayland (recording and mixing) and Colin Marston (mastering), who created something brutal and distorted in the traditional models, but defined in a form that everything can be understood. And the simple and enigmatic artwork of Tobias Holmbeck for the cover really awakens the curiosity of the fans to the band’s music.

Even with the need of maturing a bit more in the future, songs as “Propagating Suffering” (a brutal and nasty song with Old School Death Metal elements, but with a good and technical work on bass guitar and drums), “Vacuous Magnificence” (the contrasts between fast and slow moments are very good, and depicts as the band’s guitars are amazing on the riffs and arrangements), “False Lives” and “Funneled into Oblivion” (the aggressive impact and fast parts allows the grunts and screams to fit on the instrumental layers), and “Onslaught of Irrelevance” are depicting a great potential to be sharpened.

Again: ELITIST must mature a bit more, as all the younger acts must. But what is shown on “A Mirage of Grandeur” really creates great expectations for the future. For now, Death Metal and all extreme Metal fans must listen to it!