A good song must work in whatever environment it is staged, be it in a full-blown stadium or intimate acoustic setting. Swedish dark symphonic metal outfit Eleine has internalized this little piece of wisdom and rooted it deep within their artistic integrity.
There’s no other way to explain their effortless shift between their bombastic side and the deeply spellbinding acoustic guise they present on their brand-new EP “Acoustic in Hell” set for release on October 14th, 2022, via Atomic Fire Records. The release comes just in time for their anticipated acoustic tour with metal veterans Sonata Arctica.
“We had never done acoustic versions of our music before, so approaching this challenge was something new to us”, says vocalist Madeleine Liljestam.
Notes guitarist/vocalist Rikard Ekberg: “The main thing we had in mind for these versions was to keep the essence of our metal; to keep it raw and authentic. There is weight to our music and it’s important not to make it overproduced and cute when you get this opportunity”.
Graced by a stunning cover artwork created by Nestor Avalos and Madeleine Liljestam herself, “Acoustic in Hell” sees the Swedish hopefuls take songs from their three lauded full-lengths — 2015’s “Eleine”, 2018’s “Until the End”, and 2020’s genre favorite “Dancing in Hell” — strip them down, and extract their raw, dark essence. “It took a lot re-arranging. We wanted to keep it raw and authentic but still give the acoustic versions their own identity”, says Ekberg.
“Yes, and as I always say to the guys: ‘I have to feel it in my hips!’”, adds Liljestam. “This applies to the acoustic versions even more”.
Recorded within only a week in January 2022 in their dear friend Thomas “Plec” Johansson’s The Panic Room Studio in Skara, Sweden, “Acoustic in Hell” gets elevated by a stellar performance courtesy of Liljestam who recorded all her vocals in just under three hours. More than anything, this shows the determination and the sheer will power with which things are done in camp Eleine. The EP will contain eight Eleine classics in a raw new acoustic gown.
Preorders for “Acoustic in Hell” — which will be available as a CD digipak, vinyl with an exclusive photo book, and digitally — will begin on July 29th, but you can presave the first single “All Shall Burn (Acoustic)” now here.
Tracklist:
1. Whisper My Child
2. Enemies
3. Memoriam
4. Ava of Death
5. All Shall Burn
6. Death Incarnate
7. Break Take Live
8. Hell Moon
Live Shows 2022:
17.03.2022 SE – Close-Up Båten, Åland
08.04.2022 NO – Oslo Hardrock Festival, Oslo
16.04.2022 SE – Fållan, Stockholm (w/ Dark Funeral)
11.06.2022 SE – Sweden Rock Festival, Norje
17.06.2022 FI – Metal Capital Festival, Oulu
02.07.2022 SE – Sommarhäng I Stadsparken, Motala
06.08.2022 SE – Stenby, Vattholma
15.10.2022 SE – Exclusive Release Show, Landskrona
16.10.2022 ES – Full Metal Holiday
European Acoustic Tour 2022:
20.10.2022 SE – Stockholm, Södra Teatern
21.10.2022 SE – Östersund, Gamla Teatern
22.10.2022 NO – Trondheim, Byscenen
23.10.2022 NO – Oslo, Parkteatret
24.10.2022 SE – Gothenburg, Valand (Ordensalen)
25.10.2022 DE – Hamburg, Fabrik
27.10.2022 NL – Tilburg, 013 KZ
28.10.2022 DE – Bochum, Christuskirche
29.10.2022 NL – Utrecht, Pandora
31.10.2022 UK – London, Islington Assembly Hall
02.11.2022 FR – Paris/Vaureal, Le Forum
03.11.2022 FR – Lyon, Le CCO
04.11.2022 ES – Barcelona, Salamandra
05.11.2022 ES – Bilbao, Stage Live
06.11.2022 ES – Madrid, Copérnico
08.11.2022 ES – Sevilla, Custom
09.11.2022 ES – Murcia, Garaje
10.11.2022 ES – Pamplona, Totem
11.11.2022 FR – Toulouse, Le Metronum
12.11.2022 FR – Nantes, Le Ferrailleur
13.11.2022 BE – Sint-Niklaas, De Casino
15.11.2022 DE – Nürnberg, Hirsch
16.11.2022 CH – Pratteln, Z7
17.11.2022 IT – Milan, Live Club
18.11.2022 SL – Ljubljana, Orto Bar
20.11.2022 BG – Sofia, Joy Station
21.11.2022 RO – Bukarest, Quantic Club
22.11.2022 RO – Cluj-Napoca, FORM Space
24.11.2022 AT – Wien, Szene
25.11.2022 HU – Budapest, Akvarium
26.11.2022 CZ – Ostrava, Club Garage
27.11.2022 PL – Warsaw, Proxima
28.11.2022 DE – Berlin, Columbia Theater
29.11.2022 DE – München, Backstage Werk
01.12.2022 DE – Köln, Essigfabrik
02.12.2022 DE – Passau, Zauberberg
03.12.2022 DE – Speyer, Halle 101
(w/ Sonata Arctica)
Line-up:
Madeleine Liljestam – Vocals
Rikard Ekberg – Guitar, vocals
Jesper Sunnhagen – Drums
