Elend is heavy stuff, very heavy. Not in terms of ponderous riffs or flogging drums but based on stodginess. But if you look through the veil of atrabiliousness, a world of beauty appears. Lyrically personal themes are combined with references to ancient Greek authors. When telling you that the three core members are assisted by fifty instrumentalists and vocalists of the Ensemble Orphique, it is a wonder there are so many moments of relief. -Lords of Metal