The year was 1986 when the legendary eagle of Londoners Elixir spread his mighty wings on the cover of the great The Son Of Odin album. A strange era for the British heavy metal scene nonetheless. One could claim that these guys were 5 years short, missing the bullet train that was the N.W.O.B.H.M. outpour. The band debut, the iconic Treachery 7”, was presented just a few months prior to the release of the full length. Each and every year since the middle of the 80s, set the bar lower than the previous one in terms of popularity for this particular kind of music within the U.K. So things for Elixir unfortunately could not get better. Not even in 1990, when the band brewed its second elixir titled Lethal Potion. An effort that took its place in heavy metal history because of the participation of Clive Burr as a full band member. An injustice for the fine music of the album that unfortunately came second… The band lowered its flag soon afterwards and Father Time took maters in his hands, adding value to the Elixir legacy within the underground circles. The Sons of Odin LP became a collectible item and in 2001 it was reissued through the Greek label Cult Metal Classics, lifting the Elixir reputation even higher. The reactivation of the band was a matter of time and so was the return on stages throughout Europe. This second coming was graced with some fine new music, faithful to the Elixir brand. For a decade or so the band went through a creative and quite productive period. In 2012 there was a second pause that seemed definitive since the core of the band, guitarist Phil Denton and vocalist Paul Taylor went on to form Midnight Messiah. The eagle though was going to have the final call on this and finally decided to spread his wings for yet another flight.
The Voyage of the Eagle. What did this 8 year long absence hold in store for us? The opener Drink to the Devil provides the answer right off the bat. Taylor’s voice remains untouched, accompanied by Denton’s British bred riffs. Press Ganged follows in the same vein. Horizons is the prelude of the doomy The Siren’s Song which reveals the Sabbath side of the group and so does Sail On. Lyrically wise the album serves the naval concept of the cover art since we continue with titles like Onward Through the Storm and Mutiny, with the first one picking up a faster pace and the latter returning to mid tempo grounds that remain for Almost There too. Whisper on the Breeze is sort of a typical ballad and the album closes in a way identical to its opening since Evermore is another trademark Elixir song.
All those who respect and love what the Elixir guys do since the beginning, can rest assured that the band undisputedly respects its own legacy and definitely delivers, despite the big pause.
