Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky

Elis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 11, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Napalm
• ASIN: B0002ZXCYY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,146 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Elis' debut album caused quite a commotion in 2003: God’s Silence... was a triumphant, strategic advance that undoubtedly continues with the quintet’s new opus, Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky. The CD displays superb, rich and varied Gothic Metal, with a heavy and occasional ballad-like edge. Altogether a deep and entertaining album - a new star in the "perfect sky".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A top notch metal album, April 16, 2005

By 

Erica Anderson (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky (Audio CD)

I recently discovered Elis through Outburn magazine and was quickly intrigued by what I read. I was very curious to hear their new album "Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky". I'm not really big on goth metal as I once was but something about Elis piqued my curiousity. After hearing samples of the album at a local record store, I was immediately hooked on Sabine Duenser's pristine vocals and the melodic yet crunchy heavy metal guitar riffs. Sabine has a very sweet, angelic voice that is not weak nor thin. Her sweet, angelic vocals is a nice contrast to bassist Tom Saxar's gruff vocals on "Heart in Chains". I personally did not mind the occasional vocal contributions from Tom. Musically, the guitars are loud and aggressive which at times reminded me of Nightwish's recent material. All of the songs on the album are excellent. I especially loved the arrangements on the band's ballds like "Perfect Love" and "Ballade". The lyrics on the album are well crafted. The songs did not come off as contrived as a lot of songs by other goth metal bands have a tendency to sound. They are heartfelt and touching. In a sea of cookie cutter goth-metal bands nowadays Elis has risen above the rest with its sonic beauty and grace, aggression and angst. "Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky" is easily this year's best metal album.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are you missing me, July 13, 2006

By 

E. Anderson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky (Audio CD)

I am not a big fan of heavy metal. I hated the '80s hair metal scene when I was in high school. I hated the nu metal schtick of the late '90s, early '00s. The only metal genre I enjoy is the gothic metal genre which has been around longer than Evanescence (who contrary to what some people might think, did not originate the goth metal sound...The Gathering is credited for creating the goth metal sound).

One of my favorite goth metal bands who I think have never really been recognized is the german band Elis. I discovered Elis accidently in the back pages of Outburn magazine (when it was STILL cool). I immediately went out to purchase the band's 2nd album "Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky". There is a definite resemblence of Leaves' Eyes Liv Kristine in the voice of Sabine Duenser. Both women share that same delicate voice. The music is though a lot more aggressive IMO. The aggressive guitar riffs compliments Sabine's angelic vocals. A lot of that credit goes to producer Alexander Krull (Atrocity), Liv's husband. His production abilities are immaculate. His work on Elis' album as well as with his wife's albums are perfectly crisp and clean without being overly produced.

Some of the stand out tracks on "Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky" are the ballads. "Perfect Love" and "Ballade" has that perfect combination of melody and sorrow without losing out that aggressive edge. I absolutely love working out to the aggressive track "Anger" or if I lose my temper, I often crank up this song and start taking out my anger to this song. Elis's sound may not be terribly original but they certainly know how to keep the goth metal genre from becoming bland and predictable.

It deeply saddens me to note mention this news. The heavy metal scene has lost one of its own. Elis lead singer Sabine Duenser recently passed away not even a week ago due to a cerebal hemorrage. This young woman had shown a lot of promise and had a bright future. You were loved and will be forever missed. RIP Sabine :(.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review, June 14, 2006

By 

Solid (Lebanon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky (Audio CD)

Elis, a Liechtenstein-based 5-piece band began as "Erben Der Schöpfung" & they released their debut, "Twilight" in 2001. Vocalist Sabine Duenser and guitarist Pete Streit continued working together and Erben Der Schopfung morphed into Elis. They released their debut, "Gods Silence Devils Temptation" in 2003 to very good reviews, and quickly followed with "Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky" in February 2004. Their style of music is most often considered goth metal, but Elis incorporate electronics, doom, and rock into their music for a rather eclectic sound.

Following the path of bands like Lacuna Coil, Leaves' Eyes, Darkwell, Lacrimosa & The Gathering, ELIS is trying to find a place for themselves in the world of Gothic music, and with Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky, they succeeded in doing just that.

Let's start with the Album Cover Artwork. Vocalist Sabine Duenser says : "The picture with the butterfly is a symbol for the album title and so it is also a symbol for the message we want to give to the listener. There's this perfect butterfly, which is a picture of a real but dead butterfly- which is brutally speared on the sky. On the first look the picture just seems nice but when you have a closer look at it you see that it is not as nice as it seemed. The title Dark Clouds in a Perfect Sky stands for the fact that in this world there exists nothing which is perfect. Everything, even when it seems to be perfect, has also a dark and ugly side. People only can be rich, because many people are poor. We like it when the sun shines but it has the power to burn everything. The nature can be very nice but on the other hand it can destroy lives with its power. So the title is a metaphor of our music, which also combines these dark and soft elements, and the lyrics which are about this contrast between good and bad. Also in a perfect sky there can appear dark clouds." [ from an interview with www.basementbar.com (Transcending the Mundane). ]

Upon first listen to Dark Clouds in A Perfect Sky, one may get the impression lead singer Sabine Duenser might be taking one too many nods from ex-Theatre of Tragedy vocalist and current Leaves' Eyes frontwoman, Liv Kristine. When you realize Liv Kristine is also the wife of Elis producer and manager Alexander Krull, the comparison might make a little more sense.
This is not really the case, though both vocalists do share similarities in their approach. They both can, and will pull out a booming soprano when needed or lull you into a mid-tempo trance.

There are 3 tracks in the band's native language, German : Der Letzte Tag (the last day) / Ballade (ballad) / Die Zeit (it's time). The other songs are Anger / Lost Soul / Heart in Chains / Perfect Love / Black Angel / Devil Inside You / Rebirth / Are You Missing Me / Show Me Heaven (Bonus Cut on Digipak Release)..Emotions range fom anger (guess which song that focuses on... ) , to love (Perfect Love) , to something we all have tendency to do, thinking too much (Are You Missing Me).

Der Letzte Tag , the album opener is bombastic with even an epic solo from Pete Streit near the conclusion. It's just how an opening track should be. Bassist Tom Saxer is featured on a couple of songs, where his extremely capable growl lends itself to the subject matter ("Lost Soul", "Heart in Chains", "Are You Missing Me").

All in all , this was an amazing listening experience. I enjoyed each & every song. However, I found myself trailing back to Black Angel , Show me Heaven , and Perfect Love..repeating them again & again...

Overall rating of the Album : 9/10