ELA
Second Reality

Tracks
1. Alchemy
2. Comatose
3. House Of Lords
4. Revenge
5. Black Roses
6. Deadly Sins
7. Witch Of Salem
8. Psycho Path
9. Varus
10. Warcraft
11. Welcome To Zombieland
12. Lizzy Borden’s Rhyme


Band:
ELA - Vocals
Ralf Stoney - Guitars
Chris Kolb - Bass
Micha Kasper - Drums


Discography:
2004 Out Of My Universe (as Com' N Rail)
2008 Passion
2008 Out Of Time (EP)
2009 Make My Day
2010 Winners - Vol. 1 (as EBC Roxx)
2015 Nervous Breakdown
2016 Out Of This World (EP)


Guests:


Info:
Produced by Ralf Stoney, co-produced by Andy Horn
Mixed and mastered by Andy Horn at the Red Room Studios.
Cover artwork by Jan "Örkki" Yrlund / Darkgrove Design

Released 2017-08-25
Reviewed 2017-08-09

Links:
massacre

Today I am writing about German artist ELA who with the album Second Reality releases the fourth album under the ELA moniker. And as usual when it comes to power metal I have to check the boxes on the checklist, so what about this one? Well, catchy choruses and good production – check! Strong melodies – check! Energy and good songs – check! Strong vocals, in this case female rock vocals – check! The album seems to tick the boxes and it is rather enjoyable to listen to, the cover art by Yrlund is really well made as usual but I don’t think it qualifies as one of the best I have seen this year or by Yrlund. It has the contents but perhaps not the cover so you see: you should never judge a book by its cover, or should you?

On closer examination, when I really sit down and starts to analyse it would seem that the cover represent the content really well. The album is as the cover, well made, even good, but not particularly memorable. It ticks the boxes, pushes the right buttons but breaks no new ground and contains more or less the expected content in terms of songs and melodies. The album’s dozen tracks plays for little under fifty minutes so it isn’t too long or anything like that, it just isn’t as memorable as the best albums we hear in this genre. Still, I would claim that it is good enough to not be disappointing to anyone buying it.

It is an album that probably won’t have a particularly wide appeal but it should probably appeal to those who enjoy their power metal – especially the female fronted variety. And then you sort of hit the wall in the writing, because what do you write about another generic power metal album, it may be good, may be very well crafted but in the end it will never really make a mark in the scrolls of music. I don’t think that it is a very exciting album; I would say that it is good but not overly exciting.

I would say that ELA has some good music to offer and that potential buyers probably won’t be disappointed with what they get to hear, I know I have enjoyed listening to the album but I doubt I will remember it when 2017 is to be summarised a few months from now. But lets just end this review by concluding that ELA has put together a pretty strong album, if you like power metal it is probably worth checking out.

HHHHHHH

 

 

 

 

Label: Massacre Records
Three similar bands: Com' N Rail/Beyond The Black/Edguy

Rating: HHHHHHH (4/7)
Reviewer: Daniel Källmalm


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