An Elixir for Existence

Sirenia | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 3, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Napalm
• ASIN: B0001DD95E
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,235 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Former Tristania mastermind, Morten Veland returns with another ingenious album while bringing a fresh sound into the rock and gothic scene. The epic songs and symphonic arrangements on An Elixir for Existence surpasses the high standard set with his striking debut At Sixes and Sevens. Terje Refnes’ elegant Sound Suite production provides charm throughout without taking away from its heaviness.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Morten Veland is back!, June 24, 2004

By 

mysanthropyk_overlord (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Elixir for Existence (Audio CD)

Sirenia's debut "At Sixes and Sevens" was a great album, but for all its high points, it failed to explore anything near its full potential. First of all, almost every song was built off of the same riff, the same synth sequence, and the same vocal structure, so it tended to feel like one very long song. But seeing as he was kicked out of his old band Tristania only a year and a half before the album's release, I can imagine that he was more eager to just get something out and prove he was still around. But with "An Elixir for Existence," he's back to kick the dust off of his shoes and show his former bandmates that they can stab him in the back all they want, but it'll be little more than a slap in the face for him.

One downside is the new female vocalist, Henriette Bordvik. She's certainly not bad, but her vocals seem to be a little empty, unlike the previous singer Fabienne, who had a more ethereal and emotional, seductive "Sirenian" voice. Also, J.K. Barkved is absent and the clean male vocals are left entirely to Kristian Gundersen, who has more of an 80's rocker voice than a metal one. He only appears in three songs, and sounds like he has a cold. Veland doesn't dominate many songs vocally; it's usually an even split between him, Henriette, and the choir, which now boasts a third female voice. The only other musician on this album is Anne Verdot, the violinist, as Morten plays or programs everything else. And he's good. The instrumental closer proves that he's not only a killer vocalist and guitarist, but he can handle the keyboards with just as much (and I almost dare say more) skill as his former colleague Einar Moen. Standout songs? In my opinion, all but "The Fall Within," which sounds like a leftover from ASAS, deserve 5+/5 stars. So, if you like old Tristania and you liked Sirenia's previous effort, you will love this Elixir for the mindless mediocrity that plagues the music industry as of late.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What A Rush!, December 28, 2004

By 

Matthew Z. Coombs "Matt The Pirate" (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Elixir for Existence (Audio CD)

Sirenia's debut album At Sixes And Sevens basically left no room for improvement. To Sirenia's credit they have made a few minor changes but kept the quality extremely high for this, thier second release. What you have hear is extremely rich Gothic metal with a mix of growl, clean, female and gothic choir vocals. Both of Sirenia's releases just reek of class which is not easy to do when you heavily utilize growl vocals.

For me the highlight for Sirenia is again the first track of the album. Lithium And A Lover is a driving number that really convices with it's outstanding lyrics and passionate vocal delivery. Comparing to At Sixes And Seven's lead track "Meridian" this one is a bit more straight forward and the same could be said for the whole album.

I did not want to give a full 5 stars because I feel this album is not quite as strong as the debut and not quite as spellbinding regarding the atmosphere and female vocals. Nonetheless, 4 and a half stars would not be a stretch at all.

Sirenia is a one of a kind band IMO and both releases are manditory of you have any use at all for Gothic style metal. So, so classy.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Gothic/Death metal band., April 16, 2005

By 

Parker Buessow (Sequim, Washington USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Elixir for Existence (Audio CD)

Sirenia continues to reing on my top ten favourites list. This band is perfect, everything from the guitars, to the epic choir chants. The whole cd is good, buy my favourite songs on this album are: "Lithium And A Lover", "Voices Within", "A Mental Symphony", and "Save Me From Myself". This band's sound is another example of a great combination between Gothic and Death Metal. I personally like Metal bands that use choirs, so naturally Sirenia instantly became one of my favourites. This is a great buy for anyone who is into bands such as "Tristania" "Penumbra", "Nightwish", "Within Temptation", "Ashes You Leave", etc...