Review of the Album El Niño by the Italian Band Eldritch
How Does the Album El Niño Begin?
El Niño is the third studio album by Italian band Eldritch. It is the last one to feature their progressive metal style though their earlier albums do have that power metal influence as well. It is with only the deepest gratitude and appreciation that I review this album that is now over 20 years old. Has it aged well? That’s one thing that this review will point out as well as how good of an album it is. Heretic Beholder has a keyboard style part that is reminiscent of what a few later bands would attempt to do in their music. What comes to mind as I hear that part is the work in the Mark Boals Ring of Fire album or the album Oracle by the band Ring of Fire. Heretic Beholder lyrically is about a certain force coming through the shadows so that it can act with its lethargic impulse.
The Significance of the Song "No Direction Home"
No Direction Home is about a person that is totally lost with no direction and he is roaming around. He is doing what he can as the lyrics say “to conceal a weep.” There is no need to conceal it if you like this album after you listen to it. The album is a stepping stone to further greatness for Eldritch. My direction in life is to bring awareness to the fact that anything less than the enjoyment of life is unsatisfactory.
About the Song "Scar"
The song called Scar is a song about someone that is living life taking a fall as he has to deal with past scars, past pain that is buried deep inside of him. Unresolved conflict is very painful and it can make us very sick if we don’t deal with it.
What you hear from Terence Holler in this Album is a Preview of His Vocal Range
Terence Holler would only get better as a vocalist, really peaking in 2004! Just listen to the song “Everlasting Mind Disease” and you will witness his awesome range! He does not have as high a vocal range as Mark Boals or Eduard Hovinga but he can sing!
"Fall From Grace"
El Niño Back of the Album Cover
"Heretic Beholder"
Final Thoughts About the Album El Niño
The Last Days of the Year starts out as a ballad. Love conquers all as the wicked people can be changed? Or can they? Many of us wait for better days, but we can change our energetic vibrations very quickly if we work at it. Life is seen as the role of the dice and we don’t know what is going to happen. I never wait for certain things to happen but I take action for the things that I want to do such as writing this article. From Dusk Till Dawn has a very important message in it. That message is that we should live life to shine, to be at our very best. The riffing in the middle section of the song sounds like Finnish band Malpractice. I live to shine now! You can repeat this phrase to yourself mentally if you would like to. The band espouses an ideology of living life to the fullest and that’s the best that humans can do. To Be Or Not to Be (GOD) starts with some loud guitar before turning into a progressive metal tune. We don’t need anyone to save us. We are all humans occupied by a spirit form or the soul. The soul is inside each of our bodies. Overall this album is a little weaker than Headquake but it is still a decent progressive metal album. The best songs are No Direction Home and Heretic Beholder.
This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.
© 2018 Ara Vahanian
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