When it comes to blending genres of music, chances are you leave yourself open to criticism. Even more the case in the internet age, everyone thinks they are an authority and know what is best. With that in mind, the Heavy Metal world has always been a melting pot for different genres, and striking a balance is difficult.
Whether by symphonic elements meshed with Black Metal, Metal married with Hardcore, or Folk music intertwined with Melodic Death Metal, the latter is a style adopted by a few. You have those like the iconic Amorphis and Ensiferum from Finland, but then comes Eluveitie from Switzerland.
Eluveitie, relatively new to the scene compared to others such as those mentioned, has been together for over twenty years. Amazing to think, because most remember it like it was just yesterday that they debuted in 2004 with their Vên EP, a lot has happened in the band’s world since then. Forever and continuously led by Chrigel Glanzmann, Eluveitie has made a name for itself by blending a potent form of Melodic Death Metal with the style of traditional Celtic music. Known for incorporating traditional European instruments into their sound, such as the hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes, they also mix violins, the harp, and whistles.
The themes explored in the songs, full of passion, sadness, and legend, are truly eclectic sounds that give their music character and add more depth to Eluveitie. Integrating English and the extinct Gaulish language into the singing, there is no denying that a lot is going on with Eluevitie.
All matters considered, Eluveitie has attained mainstream success with many of their albums charting in different parts of the world, including 2012’s Helvetios and 2014’s Origins, which broke into the Billboard 200 in the USA. Impressive, it proves that even in culturally shallow times, people are still yearning for something more. Furthermore, Eluveitie has also managed to bounce back amidst numerous lineup changes, the most recent being Lea-Sophie Fischer taking over on violin and hurdy-gurdy, replacing Nicole Ansperger and Annie Riediger, who both left in 2024. Now in 2025, Eluveitie (also including Bassist Kay Brem, Guitarist Jonas Wolf, Drummer Alain Ackermann, and Vocalist Fabienne Erni) appears reinvigorated with the release of their album Ànv.
The ninth overall Eluveitie studio album, and first since 2019’s Ategnatos, Ànv is six years in the making, and a long gap of time for any band. This is even more so considering that Ategentos was a rather exceptional, intelligent, poetic, and darkly beautiful record. So, did the long layoff hurt the forward-moving progress? Not at all, because Ànv is a delightful and energized collection of heaviness with melodic Folk you immediately dig into.
Released on April 25, 2025, through Nuclear Blast Records, the three powerhouse singles include 2024’s “Premonition,” early 2025’s impossibly addictive “The Prodigal Ones,” and the March release of “Awen.” Each is very catchy, and there is a perfect blending of Fabienne Erni (who has been a part of the band since 2017) singing and Glanzmann’s throaty growls. Matched with the excellent guitar work of Jonas Wolf (who has been a growing presence as a songwriting contributor to Glanzmann since 2017’s Evocation II: Pantheon), these singles, along with the remainder of Ànv, are pretty impressive.
With twelve songs in total, there is sheer heaviness on those like “Taranoías” and “The Harvest,” but also some stunningly subtle moments, as with “All Is One” and “Memories of Innocence.” In all parts of the story, a genuine sorrow emanates from the entire album, leading you to rethink our society’s careless ways.
Putting it all together, Eluveitie’s Ànv is a well-plotted and memorable return that proves they are still among the elite in their respective genre. That is why Cryptic Rock gives this album 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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