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When I first played this CD, I was expecting your typical Gothic Metal sound, but Holland's Elizium turns out to sound more like a doom band, albeit a lighter one that I've grown used to. The first thing that struck me is the vocalist, who I think sounds like the singer of some band whose name I just can't recall - I hate it when that happens. :) I think it was some rock band that enjoyed some popularity several years ago. Anyway, the vocalist shows some versatility with his voice, going from a melancholic, emotion-filled voice to a more aggressive, raw tone. Coupled with the music, the result is quite addictive, to say the least. This is not the genre of music I usually listen to a lot, but I found myself spinning this album 7-8 times in a row without getting tired of it. I've heard better in the genre, but despite some shortcomings, Elizium gets the listener's attention.

The music does have some Gothic elements, but as I mentioned before, to my ears it borrows a lot more from doom, very melancholic, almost depressing but not quite, with the synths sometimes bringing a bit of "happiness" in the sound. Speaking of which, this is one of the few bands I've heard that knows how to use synths effectively in its songs. Just the correct dose and the right melodies, great job blending with the other instruments. To all this, add a bit of a rock music overtone to some songs, and there's quite a bit of stuff going on here. The production could be better, however, but that hasn't prevented me from enjoying this quite a bit. Definitely worth checking out.

This is an independent release that you can order from the band's web site at www.elizium.nu.