Leaves' Eyes - Legend Land

Following the breakout success of last year’s Vinland Saga and the world tours to support it, atmospheric metal masters Leaves’ Eyes return with a special MCD, Legend Land. Featuring the title track and five brand-new exclusive songs, Legend Land is guaranteed to tide fans over for album #3, to be released later this year. The adventure continues!

The first 3000 copies of Legend Land will be released as a special Ltd. Fan Edition with alternate cover art before reverting to the regular edition. An absolute must-have for all Leaves’ Eyes fans! Album Description

Fantastic Scandinavean Metal

Fans of Gothic Metal will love this - haunting lyrics in a Nightwish vein. Terrific!! May 17, 2008

Sheer wonder...

Legend Land, the follow up mini-CD to the symphonic metal masterpiece known as Vinland Saga, is here. Leaves' Eyes is back, for another round. I'm all too happy to see another musical release, even if it's just a mini-cd.

Legend Land, much like Vinland Saga, delivers the same similar theme. All the songs surround the Vikings, yet the instrumentals, combination of several styles within one song, coupled with lead singer Liv Kristine Krull's melodies, make for another excellent listening experience. Grab a set of head phones (or speakers) and let the music take you for another ride. If you loved Vinland Saga, you're bound to love this.

Legend Land opens with the title track. It starts out somber then blasting into the melodic and epic guitar riffs. They die down for Liv's soft voice, this time contrasting her husband at times, fellow guitarist Alexander Krull, growling alongside her at times. the instrumentals vary at times, each part of the song has it's own unique style. But the real treat is the chorus. "Legend Land, I still feel how close, we are and will be, Legend Land a piece you left, A piece of promise and hope," Liv sings with passion brilliantly as the guitars echo around her.

Legend Land then reveals "Skraelings," a song that combines several different themes. It starts with a piano theme, goes to the guitars; but also there are pauses, electronic bits thrown into the mix. The song adds an adrenaline chorus to the mix. There are choirs, background growls, soft elements all combined. All of it seems to mix flawlessly.

"Viking's Word" is next. The piano melody mixed with guitar is perfect alongside the violins. The dark sound sets the mood. Once again, Liv and Alexander contrast vocals. The sound of desperation in her singing "I don't want to change" and "I don't want this to stay in your heart forever" brings out the emotion in the song. Another lovely piece of music.

"The Crossing" continues the trend, adding a touch of electonica with what sounds like synthesized guitars. The melody swirls around Liv's voice and pulls the listener even more into the story unfolding. You can see the Crossing in your mind somehow. "The crossing becomes our life" and almost ours as well. There's something about the music and singing that just won't let you go until the song is done.

Then, "Lyset" comes in softly. Accoustic sounds flow alongside Liv's voice, in an epic fashion. This is OT but: I want to say say, if anyone ever made a movie about the Vikings, Leaves' Eyes' music would be perfect for it.

"Legend Land: Extended Version" Just has a bit added at the beginning and the end. It just adds to the wonder of the song.

There's so much power and brevity in the lyrics, instrumentals, it's a shame this band is virtually unknown where I live (Canada). They are, for lack of a better word, brilliant.

If you love music and what I've described in this review, buy this CD or at least sample the songs to see if it's to your liking. It's well worth your while. January 20, 2008

Pleasantly Surprised

An affinity for Native American flavor in my symphonic metal led me to chose this album for the song Skraelings. After listening to the album extensively though, Viking's Word has become my new favorite. Alexander Krull's voice is a grating contrast in some of the songs (if you aren't a fan of his style), but Viking's Word would not be as good without him. Most of the album is symphonic/operatic in nature, with Lyset standing alone as decidedly folk. On the downside, the music and lyrics of The Crossing seem awkward, as if the song is forced and just doesn't flow together. I gave this album 4 stars because I like 4 of the 5 distinct songs on it. Admirable for an age where mainstream albums that cost upwards of $18 tend to have only 1 or 2 good songs on them. August 9, 2007

Great album

This is a master accomplishment from a masterful singer. Highly recommended. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because Skraelings is so slow, while the rest really rock. January 19, 2007

The cliches coalesce

How quick a scene can be defined/cliched.

Ho-hum, the female fronted metal schtick - Nightwish, Evanescence, Sinergy et al. The canon has been set down and bands like Leaves Eyes are left to walk the defined path. You know a lot about how this sounds straight away - keyboard intros aplenty, a whimsical sounding lady vocalist (Liv Kristine) and tight modern riffing. And one look at the band pics on the leaflet is also illuminating. Hey can you guess which one of the guys provides the obligatory death/grunt vocals. As another reviewer termed it - cookie monster on acid vocals. Why o' why do these bands insist on having a male counterpoint singer that sound like this. Yes I know it's about as far from the females voice as possible but why not a real belter of a vocalist like Tobias Sammet or Chris Cornell or Edwin Balogh who did such sterling service on the Tamas Szekeres albums Dreamlake and Blue Syndicate?

And the ethereal, semi mythical material. It's popular to waffle on about Vikings in Scandinavia presumably but for release after release?

But there is good news here. Production values are good, the band tighter than the proverbial fishs' backside and Leaves Eyes do give good headbang for your buck, getting down in the trenches with some meaty metal especially on the two versions of the song Legend Land included here. For the uninitiated Live Kristines vox are closest to Sharon Den Adel of Within Temptation as she isn't as distinctive as Tarja Turunen (probably a good thing). She does have a stonger voice than Lunaticas' Andrea Datwyler but her voice isn't strong in the same vein as the frankly frightening Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy.

All up this EP is a good taste tester for the band, for which great things seem to beckon as I write. Well worth a listen. August 30, 2006

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