The Swiss/Liechtenstein formation ELIS featuring front lady Sabine Duenser began their musical career under the name ERBEN DER SCHÖPFUNG. In 2001 they released their first single Elis as well as their debut album Twilight, thrilling the hearts of gothic metal fans worldwide. The music found on the aforementioned releases oscillates from clear vocal lines to the sharp attacks of guitars and the driving beats of the rhythm section. A mélange of classical and electronic elements compliment the gothic metal concoction, adding a distinctive feature to the already memorable compositions.
The band has appeared live at the Wave Gotik Festival in Leipzig, among others, has held on to favourable positioning on the DAC-Charts, and has remained well represented in the scene’s press. Germany’s Orkus Magazine, for example, featured ERBEN DER SCHÖPFUNG as their top newcomer act of the month. This choice was later more than confirmed by the publication’s readership, who extended the honour by choosing the band as their NEWCOMER of 2001.
Following their split with Oliver Falk, Sabine Duenser and co. re-emerged in 2003 under the new alias ELIS, yet still quite capable of an impressive showing, as their debut proved. Skilfully produced at Mastersound Studio by Alexander Krull (ATROCITY, LEAVES.. EYES), God's Silence, Devil's Temptation, boasts of a heavy yet clear production. The album was simultaneously released on NAPALM RECORDS with the re-release of ERBEN DER SCHÖPFUNG’s 2001 debut, Twilight.
Soon after the release of God's Silence, Devil's Temptation, ELIS focused their energy on writing new material for their second offering. Between their song writing and recording duties, they found time to tour in a headlining capacity with label mates EISHEILIG and THE VISIONS BLEAK. The tour took them to Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium.
In March they returned to the studio, under the guidance of band manager and producer Alexander Krull , to record the twelve new tracks featured on their second release Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky. ELIS’ October 04 release is a collection of exceptional bombastic songs that find a perfect balance between heavy riffs, varied arrangements, multi-faceted vocals, and heavily exploited guitar work. Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky perfectly documents the band’s musical development and growth, and emerged as an energy-laden, sophisticated work. A videoclip for the album’s opener “Der Letzte Tag” and an European headliner tour with VISIONS OF ATLANTIS followed the release.
After changes in the line-up following the release of Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky, ELIS focused on writing new tracks for their third album, to be produced once again by Alexander Krull at Mastersound Studios.
During the recordings, the tragic death of frontlady Sabine Dünser, shortly after the completion of her vocal tracks, interrupted production. Only because Sabine had always referred to Griefshire as her “baby”, did the band decide to
complete it in her honour.
The tracks on Griefshire form part of a concept album that tells the story of two brothers, their religious fanaticism, their search for salvation, and their longing for eternal truth and love.
This concept is reinforced musically by the use of classical arrangements in the form of strings, harps, and choirs and graphically by the CDs artwork from exceptional artist Ingo Römling.
Yet ELIS continues to explore the extremes, pushing forth with even more aggressive riffs and faster songs, while still emphasizing midtempo tracks like the Gothic Metal Anthem Show Me The Way and a refined ballad-like feel as in Forgotten Love. In this regard, Griefshire is the next logical step in the history of ELIS: A compact and mature Gothic Metal album that is never monotonous, nor pretended.
our video "The Weight of the World" (Factory of Dreams) has been released! I hope you'll enjoy it :) Feel free to spread the link and embed the vid on your profile!
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