Mortiis and a human female have a son? Probably not impossible, but if Unearthed Elf is the scion of such intercourse, his musical gift is something else compared to his father, let me tell you!

Let me introduce you Unearthed Elf, this one-man (okay, his name is Keith D., also known from atmospheric doom rock/metal band Arctic Sleep) project from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. His craft is epic doom metal in his own words, and partly that nails the musical content of this debut album. But like ancient catacombs, this also has a surprise or two behind corners of its subterranean passageways.

A big part of UE's music is based on doom metal, which is made epic with big heavy metal and some power metal influences. It really is doom metal, despite the different influences. Occult rock is one important piece to the puzzle, as are melancholic gothic vibes (on 'Never See the Sun again', which reminds me of older Tiamat or something like that). Mainly slow-ish guitar riffs are hefty and ominous, but there's sharper stuff, too, bringing in that "let it rip" vibe. There's also some open-string playing heard, giving the music more airy feel. His solo guitar work is very much suitable and skillful. Crypt-like atmosphere is amplified by organ-style keyboard work. Keith D. played everything heard on the album, which is a big accomplishment in itself. The drums are rather basic, but do their job anyway, together with the loud bass guitar. Often the groove grabs a listener to headbang in bliss.

So, the music is somewhat varying, which is a good thing here. Some shorter songs between feel too much like interludes. In all, I sense that the music has a strong Scandinavian/Northern aura to it; it is occult and doomy, and influenced could have came from such bands as Candlemass, Therion, Morgana Lefay and Tad Morose, for example. The closer 'A Forest of Gravestones' feels like a tribute to Type O Negative, though. Sound-wise the album is anything but cold and damp like a crypt. The production breathes and is organic. It can be heavy, but also airy, so it is well-balanced in all.

Keith's vocals are something rather unique; his dark-tinted clean voice actually does not remind me of anything I've ever heard in metal music circles. He can definitely sing, and vibration he uses isn't over-done. He also manages to do it powerfully or more subtly, and this too isn't over-done, drama-wise. Choirs have been utilized, big ones and also more delicately. Unearthed Elf isn't merely an image or music, but also lyrical world. This evil elf enters catacombs in search of Necrosteel, with which he can conquer the world of light. It is not a forthright tale (like e.g. some many of King Diamond albums; by the way, some falsetto singing is heard here), but a collection of adventures in mausoleums, crypts, pyramids and whatnot. Inspired by computer games and a shadowy figure in his visions, they're suitable fantasy-meets-reality tales.

I doubt, although not quality-wise, that Unearthed Elf would be next Ghost phenomenon; even though his music has similar catchiness, his image is uncommon, even though he's not totally hiding his face, plus the dark aura surrounding it all can be oh so tempting. First, he's doing this alone, and next the music is mainly much heavier. And I don't know if pointy ears are as sexy as demon masks... I cannot come up with no more buts here! I prophesy that Unearthed Elf will be soon signed by a bigger record company, because it's really the music that does the talking.

Rating: 7½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
11/21/2016 13:54