Elis - 'Catharsis'

Catharsis is the fourth full-length from the gothic metal band Elis, and the first with vocalist Sandra Schleret (Siegfried) after the tragic passing of Sabine Dunser in 2006. It has all the elements of a typical gothic metal effort with lush atmospheres, beauty and the beast vocals and punchy riffs.

The album gets off to a rousing start with “Core Of Life,” an upbeat and catchy song that also has some intense moments. Catharsis is probably Elis' heaviest album so far, but they don't sacrifice any melody or atmosphere. “The Warrior's Tale” includes male gruff vocals along with Schleret's singing, and Michelle Darkness from End Of Green also lends her vocals to the song.

Elis is an international band, with members hailing from Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The lyrics on Catharsis are mainly in English, but there are a couple of songs in German, including “Des Lebens Traum – Des Traumes Leben,” which has memorable hooks and some excellent guitar work.

Schleret is a strong addition to the band. Her alto voice is clear and strong, and she sings with a lot of emotion. She really shines on “I Come Undone,” a cover version of the 1987 Jennifer Rush song. (Rush is an American singer who had a lot of success in Europe, and that song was a big hit there.)

Most of the CD is bombastic gothic metal, but one change of pace is “Rainbow.” It's a ballad with some Middle Eastern flavor and all melodic vocals. It's acoustic for the first two thirds of the song, then kicks into full power ballad mode. “The Dark Bridge” wraps things up, showcasing the guitars and some nice vocal harmonies. Catharsis is a very appropriate title for this album, as Elis releases a lot of emotions and continues the healing process.

(released December 15, 2009 on Napalm Records)