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[miko2]

Today's Song: Tales From Heaven Or Hell by Elis

Elis is a Gothic metal band from Liechtenstein. Their albums have all been produced by Alexander Krull, the towering Viking husband of one of my favorite singers, Liv Kristine of the band Leave's Eyes. I own the second cd from Elis, Dark Clouds In A Perfect Sky but while it was pleasant and a few of the songs I really liked, there was nothing in particular that made me feel like I had to buy anything else they released.

I'm glad I picked up their third release, Griefshire, last year. This is a brilliant Gothic metal cd, with most of the songs being written by singer Sabine Duenster around a central theme (according to their web site it "tells the story of two brothers, their religious fanaticism, their search for salvation, and their longing for eternal truth and love"). Sabine had a pleasant if not outstanding voice, but she really was an excellent songwriter, and put her heart and soul into this cd. Tales From Heaven and Hell is the opening track. It's about the death of a father and wondering whether death is the end of things, or if anything exists beyond death. I've always found it quite beautiful and also quite haunting, considering that Sabine collapsed on stage during practice and died of a sudden brain hemmorrage just days after laying down all of the vocals for this cd.

My father died today
A lovely melody is fading
My memories will stay
For months he was waiting

For you dark brother of sleep
Limbs are crippled, pain can't be eased.
Decline and illness creep
Open doors for you, he is released

Is my life a castle built on sand?
Did I hold a liar's hand?
Walls of betrayal, roof of lies.
Oh I'm scared what if truth dies.

Whatever words will tell
Tales from heaven or from hell
They'll never change our past
What is true will always last.

His life lies in my hand
A story from an unknown dark land
Happened many years ago
In a town where silent winds blow.

Ashes to ashes he claims
Scatterd pieces,nothing remains
But a fading melody
Some loving words in a diary

This is our story
Lost souls -forever we cry
This is our story
For salvation we died.

Unfortunately I don't have a link to this specific song, but here's a few other links:

Elis @ myspace

Elis - How Long
Elis - Der Letze Tag
Elis - Show Me The Way (live)