Ahhh yes, Eluveitie! Folk metal meets ancient soul. With their new album Ànv dropping on 25 April, the band is diving even deeper into their Celtic roots while continuing to push their sound forward. Despite lineup changes along the way (shoutout to their latest addition, violinist Lea-Sophie Fischer), the core spirit of Eluveitie is still very much alive. After more than 20 years of weaving myth, music, and metal together, this album is shaping up to be one of their most powerful yet! I’ve been a long-time fan of Eluveitie, so I’m stoked to get into this one!
The album opens with “Emergence”, a captivating instrumental that slowly builds intensity. The flute and other instruments join in as the track nears its end, flowing effortlessly into “Taranoias”, hitting hard and bringing the combo of blast beats and Fischer’s violin you didn’t know you needed! Chrigel Glanzmann comes in with a low, slow growl, starting strong with the vocals on this album. This track brings the high-energy folky feel that Eluveitie has perfected over the years. Fabienne Erni joins in for the chorus, adding an elegant yet powerful depth to an already strong track, before stripping it back in the build-up to the breakdown – one of Eluveitie’s best and most exciting traits, along with their solos – which can be anything from traditional guitar and drums to violin, flute, or even bagpipes!
“The Prodigal Ones” follows with a fun and catchy intro before the heat is turned up once more! The chorus repeats the catchy intro riff, with soulful flutes and violin supporting, before Fabienne’s vocals ascend over it all. This track is a great example of Eluveitie’s ability to weave Celtic folk music with modern metal elements, making the contrast work for them and pushing new boundaries with every album.
Now we get to the title track, “Ànv”, which completely strips back the layers and slows the journey down with a powerful and harmonic vocal performance by Fabienne. It is hauntingly beautiful as it builds throughout the track, yet keeps its soft intensity the whole way through. Don’t let Ànv fool you though, as you’ll find yourself headbanging once again with “Premonition”! Fierce drums and chugging guitars kick it off before the chorus drops with an epic flute and violin melody that adds real bounce. The flute beautifully takes the reins post-chorus before the guitar comes back with a vengeance in a face-melting solo.
Keeping the energy high, we go back to a more Celtic intro with “Awen”, where Fabienne takes the spotlight. This track is much poppier, with a groovy vibe, and I couldn’t help but tap and bop along as I listened. The changes in instruments and pacing from song to song feel like turning pages in your favourite fantasy series – you know there’s adventure awaiting, but never quite know where it’s going to take you. That’s definitely the case with “Anamcara”, an acoustic track that feels like you’re sitting around a fire sharing stories under the stars. It kicks off with a beautiful guitar intro before we’re told a story, a prophecy – of Earth, of the cosmos, the fall of life and the banishing of evil so a pure world may be deemed worthy once more – showing that this album is more than just music and song.
Just as Eluveitie has you pondering life and the cosmos, they throw you straight back into the pit, as a heavy chugging riff and pounding drums introduce “The Harvest”. There’s no letting up in this chorus, with Chrigel taking full control and keeping it full speed the whole way through! Don’t let the heaviness fool you though – the violin solo is impressive, and I didn’t know if I needed to click my heels and dance or throw on my battle vest and go ham! After nine albums, it’s impressive that Eluveitie are still finding ways to keep their sound feeling fresh.
You’ll need a horn of mead down at your local tavern when “Memories of Innocence” comes on – it’ll have you dancing on the tables like a happy hobbit in no time! It’s a catchy, folky instrumental with great vibes, and I’ve always loved these instrumental tracks by Eluveitie. The folky energy continues with a flute and acoustic introduction to “All Is One”, where Fabienne takes the reins once more with a gentle verse, before unleashing her power in the chorus. It’s a pity this album didn’t come out sooner – these two tracks would have been perfect additions to my wedding earlier this year!
“Aeon of the Crescent Moon” begins with another strong violin intro from Fischer before the rest of the band joins in, accompanied by haunting ambient backing vocals – like a chorus of sirens as you drift through misty seas. The hurdy-gurdy is more prominent in this track too, and who doesn’t love a hurdy-gurdy? Even just saying it is fun! Finally, we come to the solo – a fantastic violin and flute collaboration that brings real duelling banjo energy before the sirens return one last time. “Exile of the Gods” is another example of the hurdy-gurdy showing its value, supported by a catchy chugging riff and acoustic undertones. This one switches things up, with Fabienne singing over the heavier riffs instead of Chrigel – still delivering a strong, captivating chorus and solo once more.
Now, there are two tracks on the album that stand out a little differently – and fans may recognise one, if not both. The first is a spruced-up, heavier version of “Epona”, a fan favourite from 2017’s Evocation II – Pantheon. It brings more oomph to an already great track, layering in heavy riffs and modern metal drumming on top of the original folk elements, plus some fresh changes in vocals and supporting instruments. The second familiar face is “Venez Danser” – a cover sung in French, just like the original. Venez Danser translates to “come dance”, and it’s another testament to Eluveitie’s talent and versatility. They’ve delivered songs in English, Swiss, German, French, Italian, and even Gaulish – a seriously impressive feat considering Gaulish is a dead language in the modern world!
The band truly tap into their roots and inspiration with “The Prophecy”, which opens with a narration-like intro before introducing druidic chanting and tribal drumming. Chrigel brings the rest of the band in with a bang, alongside fantastic vocal layering—his harsh growls and ghostly backing vocals give the track a truly epic feel. Fabienne sees us out with a relentless build-up of her most enchanting vocals, with every band member and instrument fusing together like the climactic scene of an epic film or stage production. The winds, pipes, and strings come together effortlessly, creating perfect harmony between the heavy, the melodic, and the graceful.
Finally, Ànv comes to a close with “Aidvs”, bringing in druidic children’s chants and a long, haunting cry from Fabienne, followed by deeper, harsher male voices—a chorus of ancient whispers. I can tell you now, I would not want to hear that walking through a Germanic forest 2,000 years ago! Aidvs is based on an ancient Celtic prophecy—of a new generation restoring Mother Nature to her rightful throne—and the chanting, storytelling, and music capture that vision perfectly. Aidvs is everything Eluveitie represents: gritty riffs wrapped in mystic, Celtic echoes. It’s a 10/10 finale to a brilliant album.
At 23 years young, Eluveitie have proven they’re just as strong and creative as ever—and there’s no sign of them slowing down. From heavy anthems to keep you headbanging, to fun, folky infusions that’ll have you dancing all night; from jaw-dropping instrumental phenoms to Gaelic storytelling steeped in history and mythology, this album ticks every box. Aidvs may mark the end of this chapter, but with roots this deep and stories this ancient, it may be the beginning of something even greater to come. Keep an eye out for the next chapter in Eluveitie’s story!
Rating: 10/10
— James Locke, Metal on Tap
Release Details
- Label: Nuclear Blast Records
- Release Date: 25 April 2025
Track Listing
- Emerge
- Taranoías
- The Prodigal Ones
- Ànv
- Premonition
- Awen
- Anamcara
- The Harvest
- Memories of Innocence
- All Is One
- Aeon of the Crescent Moon
- The Prophecy
- Epona
- Venez Danser
- Exile of the Gods
- Aidvs
