Elevare is a female fronted metal band playing a brand of gothic formatted rock, with a Brazilian interpretation. Brazil is not a country that supplies in inordinate amount of metal, but this work is pretty much first rate. It covers a range of styles from the heavy metal to the doom metal and including ballads of considerable interest.

The band’s history only dates back to 2003. Shortly after that a demo was recorded, met with a positive review, and was followed by the recording of the present work which was completed in the 2007 timeframe.

Elevare is driven by the vocals of songstress Pâmela Emanuelle, a perky blond with a fairly strong, interesting and emotive vocal style. Background includes Leandro Trombini ((guitars/backing vocal), David Riera (guitars), Ruy Alhadas (keyboards), Everton Moreira (drums) and Pedro Machado (bass). Each is a strong complementary musician and the totality of the effort reflects this strength. Lyrical themes are described by the band as "A temática das letras é voltada para a relação do ser humano com as dores da alma. Porém, não há tristeza e sim melancolia. Não se fala de sofrimento, mas de angústia. Não é uma dor panfletária. Apenas uma temática com sentimentos comuns a todos nós; sentimentos esses que vivenciamos sempre, em diferentes proporções."

Yea, everything tends to be in PORTUGUÊS. But, the English interpretation, for those not familiar with the language goes pretty much like this: "The subject matter of the lyrics is about the relationship of the human being and the pain of his soul. However, there is no sadness but melancholy. There is nothing about suffering, but anguish. It is not an announced pain. Just a theme of feelings that is common to every one of us; feelings we always live, in different proportions."

It’s difficult to chose a best selection with this title. It would reflect personal choice and Elevare covers several different styles with some degree of competency. However, The Will and the Animal would be one that reflects, in this reviewers opinion, anyway, the signature sound of Elevare. The song is a metal offering, starting out with a crashing guitar and drum line. A keyboard orchestration follows the intro, followed by the female lead. Emanuelle is particularly strong in this environment, having a strong metal vocal style with a particularly haunting gothic interpretation, especially when her voice is overlaid, as in this song. The lyrics carry this story line:

As I can look, as I can choose

Join the visions! That's your mission

They shout for you, they speak inside you

All the players are getting weaker

You will lose forever, when clouds steal my soul

You will lose forever, when my body is alone

You will lose forever

You will lose for living and dying intensely

Elevare also presents a softer side. Where’s My ground is one of these. The song is a ballad, with the vocals presented over an acoustic guitar. Again, Emanuelle carries the heavy lifting. And her vocals are up to the effort. The guitar is South American in nature, almost like what we might hear in a Mexican ballad, but the vocals are right in line with typical Western and European styles. A string instrument is utilized discretely within the softer sections, and to good effect. All in all, a truly beautiful song.

However, Elevare is a metal band and they spend most of their time cranking it out and up. Chaotic Landscape is typical of this direction. Guitars drive the opening, and never fall far from the listener’s ear. Again, Emanuelle is strongest when the tempo is upbeat, her vocal style is drawn to the heavier numbers, the guitars in scream mode seem to bring out the best in her, and her interpretation of the lyrics achieves a more desperate level on these numbers. On this title she sings:

It is time to face the desert

Annihilate the preserved

Some people betrayed us again

Our demons spoke in vain

Maybe now you should relieve that weight

We have shared the land

We have showed it's birth

Paint the Beauty Forever takes the band into a more industrial electronic direction. It’s different than the other tracks with an electronic component that covers much of the song. The guitars are more secondary in nature, the vocals take on an industrial feel and the pace is more dance like. Something like what you expect in the dance hall. You can almost feel the Brazilian night club scene with flashing lights and lush Brazilian beauties moving in time to the rhythm.

Then Elevare returns to their roots with Body That Feels. Crushing guitars lead the listener into the song, which then moves to a softer vocal component with interesting background components. The song moves between the harsh guitars and the softer vocals, sometimes overlaid, to present one of the highlights of the CD. This is what we came to hear, the guitars screaming, the strong vocals, an overall delight for listeners on this site.

Elevare is a welcome addition to the female fronted metal scene. The music has something for pretty much everyone. You want the guitars, you got it, you want a first rate female vox, no problem, you want some interesting lyrics and an interpretation of those lyrics guaranteed to please, look no further. A welcome addition to any library.

8 / 10