Check out the “Sudio making of” from “The Last Viking” album including exclusive studio and touring footage, guest appearances like Clementine Delauney (Visions of Atlantis), Lea Sophie (Russkaja) and Thomas Roth, background info of the new album concept, and first impressions of the cinematic 95 min. film documentary “Viking Spirit” about Viking lifestyle, Norse Mythology and the music of Leave’s Eyes which is included in the big format art book edition (30x30cm) of the album.
Taken from the album “The Last Viking” out 23.10.2020. The new album is available as 2CD Digipak, 2CD + 1 DVD Artbook Edition, 2CD Collectorâs Edition or colored Vinyl. Order & Stream: https://fanlink.to/LeavesEyesTheLastViking
Singles taken from the new upcoming album:
Watch “Chain Of The Golden Horn on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRlQvkf_xwE
Watch “Dark Love Empress“ on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMHRS-hUdv4
INFO
Monumental. Epic. Powerful. â The Vikingsâ last battle
England in the year 1066. The decisive battle near Stamford Bridge. Warriors fighting death, the grounds soaked in blood. Norwayâs king Harald III, called Hardrada (âthe hard rulerâ) lies dying. His whole life flashes before his eyes: cruel wars, fights over power, journeys to exotic worlds guiding to powerful women, emperors and kings falling into ruin. The last Viking King is dead â the Vikingsâ age is over. Long live the Vikings.
âThe Last Vikingâ is the 2020-monumental-piece of LEAVESâ EYES. The setting of the symphonic metal masterpiece couldnât be more tremendous. With their cult-albums âVinland Sagaâ (2005) and âKing of Kingsâ (2015) they already turned Leif Erikssons discovery of America and the life of Norwayâs first king into music. Now, LEAVESâ EYESbring the Viking Sagas to their bombastic finale.
As always, LEAVESâ EYES attach importance to historical accuracy. History books were devoured, sagas had to be studied. âSome tv dramas or blockbusters make me smirk when I see the Viking Sagas turned upside down. We donât mess around in mythology!âpromises Alexander Krull (vocals), again responsible for conception and lyrics. âThe Last Vikingâ itself would make a great screenplay. The sagas of Hardrada are full of drama, emotions and the everlasting fights for power. âThe Last Vikingâ is the epic soundtrack to the mythical world of Viking adventures.
The raging pagan-hymn âChain Of The Golden Hornâ chronicles Hardradaâs dangerous escape from Byzantium, where a heavy iron chain was hidden in the Bosporus waters to wreck hostile ships. The haunting rock opus âDark Love Empressâ tells about the vengeful empress ZoĂ«. When the Viking hero refuses to be one of her many lovers she has him locked in the Byzantine dungeons. The thrilling first single showcases what a key strength the Finnish soprano-sensation Elina Siirala has become to the band sound. In the speedy symphonic-smash hit âSerpents And Dragonsâ she joins a strong duet battle with shouter Alex, bringing Hardrada’s naval combat for the Danish crown with hundreds of longships impressively to life. The ten-minute-epic âThe Last Vikingâ is a spectacular ride through the variations of metal music. Being all bombastic, heavy, dark and atmospheric at the same time, it perfectly captures all the drama in Hardradaâs life and death.
No doubt: all the musicians exactly know which buttons to push to play out all the strengths of LEAVESâ EYES. The energetic compositions proof the ingenious skills of the song writing duo Thorsten Bauer (guitars) und Alexander Krull (vocals). Straightforward and consequently they follow the line that already has garnered a significant worldwide fan base. Their die-hard followers will be more than pleased with âBreak Into The Skyâ, acting as a best-of track combining all of the bandsâ musical qualities: enthralling song structures, touching melodies and a mystic aura.
All the 14 tracks individually impress with their unique build-up, rhythm and atmosphere. Mighty drums, Mediaeval instruments like nyckelharpa and fiddle and Celtic horns add spice to the diversified sound. The mystic elegy âTwo Kings One Realmâ surprises with yet unheard facets. The dark-pop ethno sound wouldnât be expected from Germanyâs symphonic-metal band no. 1. Mastermind Alexander Krull delivers a thrilling, fresh and razor-sharp audio production adding distinctiveness, dynamic and roughness to the sound of LEAVESâ EYES. The new versions of the immediately sold out EP âNight Of The Ravensâ, âSerklandâ und âBlack Butterflyâ make these tracks an all new adventure. The latter surprises with powerful guest vocals of the French rock sensation ClĂ©mentine Delauney (Visions of Atlantis, Exit Eden) that terrifically bring the smash-hit to new life.
LEAVESâ EYES have always played in a league of their own. They have toured all populated continents, frequently reach top positions in the album charts and with every output they deliver a multimedia masterpiece when it comes to video clips and artwork. With âThe Last Vikingâ they surpass their own standards with the original film documentary âViking Spiritâ. Filmed worldwide, the growing Viking re-enactment scene will be visually praised here. Fronter Alex and the band became part of this community, long ago. With this film, historical facts merge with Nordic mythology, Viking-lifestyle and the sounds of LEAVESâ EYES, featuring friends and companions of the Viking scene. A long awaited complement to their body of work. Of course, âThe Last Vikingâ wonât be the closure of LEAVESâ EYES â it only fuels expectations what these geniuses will come up next with. With âThe Last VikingâLeavesâ Eyes set up their own musical monument that is just as captivating and strong as the saga of the last Viking King itself.
Tracklist:
01. Death Of A King
02. Chain Of The Golden Horn
03. War Of Kings
04. Black Butterfly (feat. Clementine Delauney)
05. Serpents And Dragons
06. Dark Love Empress
07. Two Kings One Realm
08. For Victory
09. Varangians
10. Serkland
11. Night Of The Ravens
12. Flames In The Sky
13. Break Into The Sky Of Aeon
14. The Last Viking
Lineup:
Elina Siirala / Vocals
Alexander Krull / Vocals
Thorsten Bauer / Guitar, Bass
Micki Richter / Guitar
Joris Nijenhuis / Drums
