The Secret of Elena's Tomb [Single, Enhanced, EP, Limited Edition]

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 1, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single, Enhanced, EP, Limited Edition
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B00008NRKY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,332 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars trail of dead - secret to elena's tomb, October 6, 2003

By 

thethoughtsofadyingatheist "thethoughtsofadyi... (Down Under) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret of Elena's Tomb (Audio CD)

Firstly, if you are reading this review and have little knowledge of the Trail of Dead, but are keen to purchase something because you've heard some good things, I warn you, do not purchase this cd. Immediately go to "Source Tags and Codes", purchase that, listen on repeat for a week and then no doubt you will want to purchase every other cd released by ToD. This new EP being a good place to start.

Whilst it doesn't have the brilliant melding of songs and intricate song structures as on "Source Tags" there is plenty here to get yourself pumped for the next release. Being only a 5 song EP it was always going to be hard to produce a fully cohesive "album" whilst appealing to old fans and still developing into something new, however I think the ToD have done as good a job as could be expected (although the album art is a little disappointing, especially after the brilliant cover to Source Tags that seems to grow and develop into something else, much like many of the songs).

Track 1: Mach Schau: definitely a true ToD song, heavy and hard hitting, with the usual tempo shifts, slow guitar lines that evolve into a hard hitting chorus before easing up for just long enough for you to catch your breath before flinging you straight back into the fire. A great opener, and a very fine song.

Track 2: All St. Day: another fine rocker which is in much the same vein as some of the softer more mellow "rock" songs off Source Tags. More of a "How Near, How Far" or "Relative Ways" style single material song.

Track 3: Crowning of a Heart: This songs just flows straight through beautifully from the end of "All St Day". Once again a slower tempo song and a very light breezy chorus, with a single prominent guitar line repeating itself throughout. This song builds and subsides with the drumming rising and falling, only it never really peaks, before fading out. Good song, but not something the fans of Madonna will get into.

Track 4: Counting off the Days: Ahh yes, its acoustic. Definitely something we haven't really heard these guys do. Having said that i'm partial to a bit of acoustic guitar work and this song is definitely appeasing to me. Just something about the rather simple guitar and that just floats along with the accompanying strings. Probably finished a bit quickly for me but is defiantly something they could evolve and use a bit more in the future.

Track 5: Intelligence: Wow, now we get a dance track. Don't think doff doff doff, it starts normally before a simple 70's type drum sync comes in and the song starts to kick. With its whirring chorus and customary tempo change before finishing in a screeching assault and fading out.

All in all there is something here that could appease everyone, as for me all 5 tracks have something that has me geared up for the next LP, whether that's old school (track 1), continuation of last album (tracks 2 and 3) or something far far more experimental (tracks 4 and 5) I say bring it on!!!!

Well worth a purchase.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kids are Hopped Up Now, November 24, 2004

By 

John (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret of Elena's Tomb (Audio CD)

How do you follow up an album as great as Source Tags and Code? You evolve. And with the EP 'Secrets of Elena's Tomb' that's exactly what the Trail of Dead are doing.

Mach Schau is classic ToD. Raw, hard, and intelligent. This song could have been taken off the 'Madonna' album. Not to say it's bad, but this is the worst song on the EP.

All Saints Day is a fantastic new song. It sounds like it could have been taken out of 'Source Tags'. It uses the normal soft/hard formula of ToD, but shows a little more advancement. Very mellow as well. One of my favorite Trail of Dead songs.

Crowning of a Heart is even mellower than All Saints Day. Think "How Near How Far". A great song.

Counting Off the Days is a short acoustic song. Yes that's right I said acoustic. It's a fantastic song, just an acoustic guitar and a string backing that adds much warmth and feeling. The vocals fit perfectly as well.

Intelligence. This is the bands biggest departure. Other reviewers have mentioned techno, electronica, and dance music in relation to this song. That's all wrong. The closest comparision would be to say it's like ToD doing an incredible cover of a early Nine Inch Nails song. Die hard fans, don't be scared away, this is no namby-pamby electronica.

All in all, if this is a sign of where the Trail of Dead will be going with their next album, I'm even more excited about it then I was before. Not only that, but this dispels any fear I might have had that they won't be able to top Source Tags. For any fan who wants to see what the next album may be like, or just wants something to tide them over, this is worth your money. For any new fan, get 'Source Tags and Code' and go from there.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is my first meeting, November 21, 2003

By 

"facemanmvp" (The farm) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret of Elena's Tomb (Audio CD)

I . . I have a problem. The first time I listened to "Source Tags and Codes," I was hooked. I couldn't stop listening. But, you know, the highs just aren't high enough after awhile. You need something new to really get you up to your previous levels of listening enjoyment again. Then, I almost went into cardiac arrest when I saw this E.P.. I thought I had it bad before, but now it's even worse. This is the only CD I listen to. I haven't stopped for almost six months. SIX MONTHS! I can't help it. "Counting off of the Days" . . . it's just so beautiful. "Machu Machu" is so much fun. "Intelligence" is just so incredibly entrancing while at the same time it makes you scream and dance. One time, I was listening to it while driving. When I looked up I didn't even KNOW WHERE I WAS! And that's not even the worst of it. "All Saint's Day?" Sometimes, I hit repeat three, four times. I know it's sad, but I can't help it. I love it. Thank you.