Review Summary: Atmospheric melodeath worth the wait - and worth its weight in gold
A decade on from “Singularity”, Jari Lindholm, together with Sébastien Pierre, has blessed us with a new Enshine LP. Of all Lindholm’s projects, Enshine is perhaps his most beloved and anticipated amongst progressive melodeath disciples. And for good reason. Enshine especially, carries forth a recurring theme of ethereal vastness and mystical grandeur that draws in a legion of stargazers beyond his one-off full length forays with Slumber, Exgenesis and 2021 self titled release. What sets Enshine apart, including this “Elevation” record, from Lindholm’s other crafts is the distinct gaze elements woven into the melodeath framework as immediately exhibited in the aptly named opener “Shimmering”.
The framed mist rising from the mountains forms into view to set a divine scene for the remainder of “Elevation”. Here a perfect synthesis is struck between Pierre (vocals, lyrics and keys) and Lindholm (guitars, keys, backing vocals) who conjure existential contemplations above all else through Pierre’s elegies and Lindholm’s dreamy melodies. This is music for musings, for the mind to wander and then return to appreciate the intricacies of the compositions, the layered riffs and winding solos.
The relieving escape in dreams is the meaning behind the ensuing “Heartbliss” which melts in your mouth through striking a balance of the finest atmospheric melodeath heard in some time. Even with comparisons to the greats Insomnium and Be’lakor, songs like this are pure magic. Whilst the bass line intro to “Where the Sunshine is Felt” is reminiscent of Eternal Storm’s “Dim Illusion”, it onwardly traverses a different path, more amenable and commensurate to rapture - excuse the pun.
The mind wanders further with “Distant Glow” as the keys noodle a wormhole, a probe backed by a heavy craft, to round out Act 1 before “The Moment” seizes its opening to hit the listener with the most iconic of intros. The lead riff is initially curbed only to be subtly furnished with a tail in its second lap, a small but powerful inclusion. Lindholm and his recording rhythm duo of Giannis Koskinas (bass guitar) and Marcelo Aires (drums) have great chemistry as metal this melodic and atmospheric is rarified. “The Purity of Emptiness” evokes comparable stirring releases from Counting Hours and naturally Pierre’s other notable productions with Fractal Gates and Cold Insight, yet this track within the fabric of “Elevation” is all-together alluring and enduring despite being drenched in melancholy.
This record won’t be put down any time soon as there is much to savour like “Soar to Fall” or as inversely experienced by this listener Fall to Soar. 2026 is upon us and Enshine have managed to “Reignite” and “Elevation” can serve as a beacon for melodic metal to relish as we hurtle forward through the next decade.
