Continuing on from the two-piece iteration that Elyose formed for 2023’s Déviante, Évidence is the fifth full-length from the French act. The interesting combination of djent/nu-sounding mechanical riffing and vocalist Justine Daaé’s more melodic vocals makes the ground that Elyose tracks more unique and innovative than one might expect. Évidence continues in many of the same ways as it’s predecessor, but it still maintains a high bar for those seeking some chunky, futuristic riffing with industrial edges.
Given the shift of Elyose from something more symphonic and gothic (still with some industrial edges) to something more modern and djent-y last time around, the formatting doesn’t change much for Évidence. That’s not to say that the songs don’t continue to be compelling though. The futuristic approach of merging the djent grooves, industrial clattering, soaring melodic vocals, and putting it through an electronic yet cinematic flair, Elyose immediately grabs your attention and holds it firm for it’s 40 minute runtime. “Immuable” displays many of the aforementioned qualities, such proggy djent melodies, an urgent cinematic vibe, and Daaé’s playful vocals. As the song reaches a fever pitch later on, it’s quite a thrilling journey to sit in on. “Etoile Solitaire” packs a massive punch with it’s groovy riffs, with Daaé’s vocals providing a nice, comforting contrast to the steamrolling melodies.
It’s the weaving of the melodies and grooves that makes Elyose truly stand out. “Rise and Reclaim,” a rare song sung in English (as opposed to the usual French), ensnares the listener with it’s flowing melodies, with Daaé leading the way. “Ascension Tracée” operates in similar territory, with some glowing combinations of the electronics and vocal melodies operating in a spectacular fashion. It’s a welcome break, keeping the album from being too reliant on the djent riffs and moving it further into occasional esoteric territory.
While it does lose a little bit in sounding to be from the same mold as Déviante, Évidence is none the less a thrilling experience. Elyose continue to be quite the underrated act within the genre, somewhat likely due to their innovative approach to metal as opposed to continuing down the same path as many, and are worth seeking out for anyone who is interested in finding some music that blurs the line between cinematic, industrial, and djent.