Genre/Influences: Cyber-rock, cinematographic, metal-rock.

Background/Info: Elvin Road is a French band hailing from Paris, which already released 2 previous albums. “Fade To Dark” is their first new opus since the “Monsters”-album (2010). It took 5 years to Elvin Road to achieve this work.

Content: It’s not that easy to define the sound of Elvin Road and I honestly don’t think they’re really concerned about belonging to a specific music genre. “Fade To Dark” rather sounds as the mix of multiple influences. From funky bass lines to empowering and metal-driven guitar riffs to refined piano arrangements to wafting rock passages to (instrumental) cinematographic passages this album has a lot to offer. I noticed a few harder cuts featuring electronic arrangements while the vocals remain more rock-like.

+ + + : One thing is for sure, Elvin Road doesn’t sound like any other formation. They have their own style and sound, which covers different sources of inspiration. I definitely prefer the harder work, which is mixing metal guitar parts and electronic treatments. In a totally different genre, the instrumental and pure soundtrack-driven”Beverly Hell Shopping” is a beautiful song revealing a more sensitive touch.

– – – : I’m not convinced about the vocal parts and especially on the song “On The Shore” where I’m missing passion and conviction. There also is a real contradiction in styles. I often like eclectic bands, but this album is maybe covering too much influences.

Conclusion: I experienced “Fade To Dark” as a real ambitious work although I’m missing some homogeneity between the songs. It feels a bit like a band, which wanted to exorcise too many ideas on one disc.

Best songs: “Shadow Company”, “Rescue”, “Beverly Hell Shopping”.

Rate: (6½).

Artist: www.elvinroad.com / www.facebook.com/officialelvinroad

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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