Elyose – Déviante (Self-Released)
Wednesday, 15th February 2023
Five years ago, some high praise was given to Elyose’s third album, Reconnexion. Well-warranted, given the futuristic merging of groovy/nu-metal-esque metallic crunch with the more symphonically styled vocals and elements that gelled in a way that one might not expect. Déviante is the proper follow-up, after a live album and an EP in between. Elyose has lost none of its magic, instead finding ways to improve the contrast and dynamic that made it work so well to begin with.
The biggest jump that can be felt with Déviante is the confidence around the board. At the forefront of this is vocalist Justine Daaé, whose contribution feels more powerful and upfront than in previous releases. Given the swelling of the bottom-heavy grooves and industrially-augmented riffs, this makes for quite an impact. “L’embleme” embodies that exact sentiment, with swirling riffs bled together with gothic overtones as Daaé soars above it all with a certain elegance and grace. But equally noticeable is that of a track like “Vendredi Noir,” where ethereal vocals that almost feel like a notch above spoken word all but float above the electronic background – setting the scene for an eruptive chorus (as well as a devastating batch of chugging riffs later on) that gets your blood pumping with ease. It’s easy to see the band’s heavier side rear itself with guest musicians, and “L’assemblée” again proves this, with Cocozher (Out of My Eyes) bringing in some rap-ish and growled vocals to let the instrumentation heighten to near death metal savagery at points without losing sight of Elyose’s signature sound.
With the band’s already futuristic and unique sound, there’s no real need to do much besides tightening the sound and giving it that ‘one-up’ from before. “Humaine” seems the best example on the album, with a cinematic scope in it’s atmosphere and driving tempos that move into the frenetic and exhilarating due to the drumwork. A melodic chorus cements it as an easy pick for one of the strongest cuts to be found and a great example of what the band can do in 2023. To spread the wealth, the following title track switches gears in a darker and more melodic direction, spiraling into the eerie by the chorus in a way that not too many bands in the more traditional symphonic/gothic are able to pull off without giving into hokey/cheesiness. Instead, “Déviante” just serves up chills, in the best way possible.
Elyose have stayed busy in the past five years, and Déviante bears the fruits of those efforts. From the French language lyrics that give it a touch of sophistication and elegance, to the pummeling mix of electronics, industrial sounds, and visceral riffs, you won’t find another band that pulls things off quite like Elyose. It’s an honest shock as to why they haven’t garnered a larger foothold in the scene, particularly with acts like Spiritbox coming into play recently. Hopefully this fourth effort gives them a greater and deserved worldwide recognition.
