As ELFFOR is a side-project by a individual going by the name of Eöl (taken from Tolkien's "The Silmarillion"), who also plays in several Spanish Black Metal bands I've never even heard of, my expectations for this re-recorded version of the 2002 album, "Son Of The Shades", were not particularly high. However, the folks at Northern Silence usually have a good ear for quality, and if they deemed this album deserving of a re-release, there must be something worthwhile about it.

As the epic intro track floats by, the carriage is made ready for a journey deep into the heart of the Dark Ages. Right from the first song your head is filled with beautiful drifting melodies that takes you away to distant lands and times, to misty hills and ancient castles, and to desolated old battlefields. The vocals are subtly whispered, never taking any attention away from the heavy atmosphere, and SUMMONING immediately springs to mind as a possible influence. Instruments range from light-spirited flutes and triumphant horns to mellow piano-melodies, while the programmed drums keep a steady rhythm. The medieval spirit of the music is accompanied by samples of horses galloping, rolling thunder, ravens crying, and raging battles.

While I have not heard the original recording of the album, everything sounds fantastic in this re-recorded and re-mastered version. None of the instruments are allowed to trail off or steal the show, but rather seem to flow into each other in a perfect serenity, which is just the way I like my Ambient music. That doesn't mean that there aren't any stand-out sections though, as almost every song feels unique in its own way due to the various instruments (all played on a keyboard) and melodies that are being used. The lyrics are growled, whispered, and sung with clean vocals, which feels surprisingly natural for a Dark Ambient project, and even when there are no vocals the music never loosens its grip, for example in the highly addictive “Ravensong”.

When it comes to Ambient music there is a thin line between captivating and tiresome, but ELFFOR definitely falls into the former category. Son Of The Shades keeps the attention of the listener for an entire hour, and ranks amongst the best work I've heard in the genre, beside masters like WONGRAVEN and LORD WIND. The two last songs on the album are bonus tracks that were originally written in 2002 but recorded exclusively for this release. Of these “Hidden In The Nebular Landscapes” show a slightly stronger Black Metal influence, while the quite mournful “Endless Dark Flames” ends in a hauntingly sombre melody and the sounds of a man weeping, which is the perfect closing-chapter and a lot less fruity-sounding than you'd think. While the original release of Son Of The Shade was limited to 500 copies, this version has only twice the amount in print, so try getting it before it sells out again, or you're missing out on a great experience.

(Online May 11, 2008)