The air above the Highlands was never colder and cleaner before. The long hair maiden welcomes us in her 'otherworld' and the fairytale once again commences; only this time is brighter and thicker than all fairytales in the whole world. Flutes, strings and death growls are mobilized under the saber of ELUVEITIE and the second part of the announced trilogy is already a fact. The symbolic title, "Everything Remains (As It Never Was)", shows a return to their past and thank goodness, they did it with a great success! After the brilliant but non-Metal effort with "Evocation I - The Arcane Dominion" last year, ELUVEITIE stand tight to their feet and dust off their glorious Metal past giving us a record that could be considered as their musical evolution. You see, in this chapter, ELUVEITIE have managed to hold their main folk character and so many new elements found in the previous album, but also, they have created an aggressive tune and a death-esque mode, which means their return to Metal staff. And what good news this is!

In "Everything Remains (As It Never Was)" you can come across so many classic elfish melodies taken from the Celtics "Spirit" and "Slania" albums, embellished by the trademark of Swedish melodic Death Metal sound like the one DARK TRANQUILLITY used some years before. Actually, Chrigel reminds me of Stanne in many levels but it's ok having the entire literature and paying mostly attention to the combination of the instruments, espousing folk tradition with Metal. Speaking of instruments, the balance between them has also changed; guitars are in the leading role in all compositions, while the folk strings and flutes stay at the background creating ELUVEITIE's mysterious and Celtic atmosphere that is close to perfection. The male vocals dominate, while the female choruses being used only where are necessary, contributing in the more metallic character of ELUVEITIE. "Women should stay at home and raise children though, while men are in battle"!

This album earned me with the self titled track and then with "Thousandfold" (the first video clip from the album), because I saw that ELUVEITIE have made the next step, sticking to the past but with a new futuristic scent too. The combination of melodic death riffs with the growling vocals of Glanzmann and the whistling flutes during the melodic parts is a superb combination and push us in moving between dance and mosh pit; just excellent! Regardless of that, my favorite track still remains "Quoth The Raven" and makes my expectations higher for the continuity of ELUVEITIE. Also, I have to notice the part of the instrumental tracks like "Isara" which is the sweet whisperer above a child's cry, the tender companion that turns the fears away and the outro ("The Liminal Passage") of the CD that drops luridly the curtain and leaves us a melancholic, warlike feel.

Have ELUVEITIE finally gained the bet with their selves after the walk-out of Kirder bros? This answer and many more about the mysteries of life, the pain of human loss and the bravery of men, are hiding inside "Everything Remains (As It Never Was)" and its spring fountain. Only one thing left unsaid: "Welcome home, ELUVEITIE! The table is set and the beers are waiting...cheers!
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