Eluveitie
What's missing in modern heavy metal music? There is energy, power, loudness. But sometimes it is not complete. Some old folks would say - it’s not music, just trashy drums and bass sounds. But there are melodies, instruments, and ideas. You just might not like the form of music delivery.
But obviously, there is one missing part. Feelings. Or, if you will, those feelings are so hard, so painful, that scream is the only way to express it. Like something is itching inside and there is no chance to scratch it. Heavy metal music, especially in its extreme forms, might serve as a metal brush to clean up painful feelings and emotions from your brain. But you left with nothing. I can compare it with noise reduction mechanism in headphones. If you record the noise and reproduce it in anti-phase, this sound will literally kill the noise sound keeping you in a kind of itchy silence.
Even though, I used to listen to it. Sometimes to hide some worries, sometimes to feel the energy of rebellion, or separation.
A number of bands serve well for that, still having beauty in sounds - Metallica, Korn, Five Fingers Death Punch, Bas Wolves, Beast… plenty.
But there is one, that brings you also the feeling of being part of something ancient, something eternal. Nine musicians revive old lutes and hurdy-gurdy instruments, non-pretending women vocals, it has songs in Latin, it is Eluveitie!
Band photos transfer you into the old Celtic forests, in the middle of Druid rituals. You literally feel the energy of nature, and support of the motherland whenever it is. Male growl wakes you up to move on and reminds you about inner strength, but also roots and origins. Tender female singing touches inner strings, reminding you about home, but giving you a blessing at the same time.
Some of the songs, especially the first ones, might be too much, too brutal. But Call of the Mountains, or Rose for Epona fills the gap.
Feelings are there! Love, honor, support, holding hands. If you hear the words of Rose for Epona - it is a funeral song. Something like what happened after I See Fire from the Hobbit. It is sad, but there is acceptance there. Not blaming - releasing.
Eluveitie is all about truth with yourself and with the world.
By the way, this is just my projection. You might see something else :) the beauty of art.
Oh, almost forgot the reason why I recalled this band! A couple of weeks ago Teenage Engineering released a new musical device - Medieval! https://teenage.engineering/products/ep-1320 Electronic music sampler with the most recognizable medieval sounds! Trailer sounds reminded me the feeling of Eluvietie