Customer Reviews

Griefshire (Spec)

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Even after a few months, this Elis fan is still reeling over the sudden and untimely death of singer Sabine Dunser. Thank heavens her final work with her band Elis was recorded prior to her death for metal fans to hear. It is almost ironic in a somber way that part of the album title has the word "grief" in it and I am still grieving for the loss of this talented singer.

"Griefshire" is a 53 minute opus of aggressive yet melodic gothic metal. The album is a perfect follow up to the 2005 release "A Dark Cloud in a Perfect Sky". The music picks up where the previous album left off. Guitarists Pete and Christian Gruber provides the aggressive edge to the music. The guitar riffs never drowns out Sabine's delicate vocals. The rhythm section of Tom Saxer and Max Naescher is steady and reliable to the rest of the band, providing a meaty sound to the band's gothic metal sound. I will admit that the band doesn't offer anything new or adventurous to their sound but then again neither does the legendary hard rock band AC/DC. I enjoyed "Griefshire" with bittersweet tears and immense satisfaction. The ballads on "Griefshire" really moved me the most especially the song "How Long". I thought all of the songs on the cd is classic Elis.

The metal has lost a truly lost a talented singer in Sabine Dunser. Sabine had a voice of an angel. Thank heavens I am able to listen to her one more time via "Griefshire". I am pleased that the band has continued to soldier on with a new singer. It will be interesting how well her voice will mesh with the band.

Sadly this is Sabine's last album since she passed away. Her vocals will always live on. Griefshire is a really great album as well as different from their previous albums. I really loved the cover song of Heaven and Hell.

Not as strong as "Dark Clouds" but nice to listen to. But seeing as this is the last time we will get here Sabine, this will always be special.

I bought this album and I love it. This is the best they could do in Sabine's memory. I love all the tracks but in particular, I like Phoenix from the Ashes, Innocent hearts, Forgotten Love, The Burning, and Heaven and Hell. The bonus track makes the album even better, it's very much like the actual Black Sabbath song only with Sabine's voice. As the Description says, Elis is not mononotnous, not pretending. I would give this album 10.5/10. It excels and is the best album I own!

"Griefshire" is the third album by the band Elis out of Liechtenstein. It is also their last album to feature the soaring vocals of Sabine Dünser, who died unexpectedly in 2006 of a cerebral hemorrhage. [A fourth Elis album is in the works, featuring the vocals of new singer Sandra Schleret.]

Anyway, when I first listened to "Griefshire", I thought that it sounded somewhat like Metallica, except with James Hetfield being replaced with a soprano plucked out of the opera. You know, somebody who could actually *sing*. I immediately fell in love with it.

The drums get a little relentless on some of the tracks, but overall, the music is quite good. There are even some symphonic elements on certain tracks, but the guitar work is what makes this album shine. Well, that and the spectacular voice of Sabine Dünser. She will be missed.

The two stand-out tracks are "Show Me the Way" and "Innocent Hearts". Most of the others are worth a listen as well. "Griefshire" is definitely recommended for the fan of female-fronted rock.

Griefshire and the death of Sabine Dünser

On July 9, 2006 Sabine died of a cerebral hemorrhage. An announcement on the band's official website has stated that the album Griefshire would be released in Sabine's memory. A further announcement in September stated that the band would continue with a new singer.

Griefshire was released in Europe on November 24, 2006 on Napalm Records. The North American release date was January 16, 2007.

On December 28, 2006 it was finally announced that the new female singer is the Austrian metal singer Sandra Schleret, former vocalist of Dreams of Sanity and Siegfried, and guest singer on some Samael albums.

A new album named "Catharsis" is due to be released sometime in 2009.
Griefshire is a very heavy album that mixes symphonic and doom metal.

Most of the song's lyrics are written in English, with two or three songs in German. Before Sabine Dünser's death, she was the main songwriter. Fortunately, the male singer's "cookie monster growls" are only used a little. "How Long" is my favorite song on the Griefshire album.

Sabine Dunser will be remembered as a young, talented vocalist and songwriter with a very beautiful voice.

New vocalist Sandra Schleret will be featured on the next album, Catharsis.

This is a five star product-