Track Listing

1. Scythe
2. Lost Hill of Memories
3. Infection
4. Poison Tears
5. Riddle of Stars
6. Romance and Wrath
7. Divided Heart
8. Totentanz
9. Death and the Suffering
10. Dominhate

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101737 in Music
• Released on: 2007-11-06
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Customer Reviews

3.5
I really loved the first 3 albums (as well as two tragedy poets) and have been following Elvenking for a while, but this album just enters the realms of NU-METAL and EMO a little too much for my liking.
This is not to say its all bad. There are still some really great moments and songs, such as Lost Hill of Memories and A Riddle of Stars.
still worth it, but at times a bit dissapointing.
but whatever two tragedy poets totally made up for it!

Power Meatal from Italy
Elvenking play power metal with a folk twist by including a violin as an integral part of their songs. They are competant musicians and their songs are well written and thoughtful. As one might surmise from the title, "the Scythe" deals with the many different opinions about death. Most of the tunes are upbeat and pretty standared 80's influenced old school heavy metal with the violin. If you like that sort of thing, this disk is for you.
Although I enjoy this record, I give it four rather than five stars since there are really no stand out tracks like Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" or Maiden's "Run to the Hills". But this is still a good album and if you are a power metal fanatic it is worth getting.

Not their best, but still impressive
People seem quick to play the "sellout" card when discussing Elvenking's 2007 album The Scythe. Frankly, unless you're Dragonforce I don't see how it's even possible for a power metal band to sell out. And no, there isn't anything remotely emo or nu-metal about this album.

Elvenking is doing what they've always done. They're playing power metal with string folk elements and a willingness to experiment with harsh vocals. They used harsh vocals/screams as far back as Heathenreel. That doesn't exactly make them Linkin Park or Bullet for My Valentine (Mercenary, maybe). That said; The Scythe is not Elvenking's strongest work. It lacks the focus and melodic beauty of Heathenreel, and seems a bit rushed. You have completely heavy songs like "Infection" and "Poison Tears" set against more traditional numbers like "The Divided Heart" (which has to be Elvenking's best song in quite a while), and the result is an album without a real character. Still, what other band is out there playing folk-based power metal, and doing it this well?

There are some really terrific songs on The Scythe, and some filler. The end result is still pretty impressive, even if it isn't the band's finest hour. I'd absolutely recommend this album to open-minded power metal fans, as well as fans of some of the Pagan Fest bands like Korpiklaani, Tyr and Finntroll.

PS - I saw Elvenking live at ProgPower USA IX in 2008, when they were pushing The Scythe, and they were brilliant. I'll give this band the benefit of a doubt every time.