Bio

We all wade through archetypes. We all ARE archetypes. Distant echoes of a life both primeval and noble. To
embrace these archetypes, to accept them not only as a part of life but as life itself is what some may call
enlightenment, some peace of mind. ELUVEITIE call it »Ategnatos«. And by using their longest gap between
two Metal albums to gather momentum, they just forged their strongest album around it.

Born in the rural mysticism of the Swiss alps and since a very early point deeply rooted within Celtic
mythology, Gaulish history and proto-European culture, ELUVEITIE have long become Folk Metal’s
trailblazers, spindoctors and rightful masters of their craft. All the more because they never limited
themselves to simple forays through rune-decorated cliches or foolish drinking songs. From their fabled
debut »Spirit« (2006) onward, theirs was an approach of respect, historic accuracy, depth and the most
thrilling, catchy, primordial melange of Melodic Death Metal and Pagan Folk the world could have ever
imagined.

Success, of course, was not far behind. Their groundbreaking seminal work »Slania« saw them bond with
Nuclear Blast, a friendship that lasts to this day and quickly turned the band into a worldwide phenomenon.
In a rapid two-year-succession, they unleashed »Everything Remains (As It Never Was)«, »Helvetios« and
that massive monument of all things Folk Metal called »Origins«, framed by the two elaborate and archaicacoustic albums »Evocation I – The Arcane Dominion and »Evocation II – Pantheon«, the last of which was
also presented on an unforgettable acoustic tour. On each release, they refined their trademark brand of
Chrigel’s thundering roar, metallic fierceness and folkloric ingenuity that has always been miles above the
usual “let’s add some bagpipes there”.

Members came, members went. The soul of ELUVEITIE, though, the very essence of this pagan congregation
remained undisturbed. Now, in the dawn of 2019, they look back upon an impressive seven studio albums,
the last of which climbed to the very top of the Swiss album charts and also made a remarkable entry at No.
6 in Germany, as well as countless tours around the globe and headliner slots at the biggest Metal festivals.
Still, this was only the beginning. A 13-year-overture for the things about to come. The sky is darkening, the
ravens fly. The stage is set for the thunderstorm that has already been heralded by the tempestuous
harbinger »Rebirth« in late 2017. Finally, everything is prepared for the colossal voice of the ages that is
»Ategnatos«.

On an album both mystical and philosophical, ELUVEITIE propel mythology, pagan belief and spirituality into
our modern world. “This one almost became something like a socio-critical uncovering work”, says Chrigel,
“some kind of a revelation, a doomsday prophecy. Dark and severe in its atmosphere and charisma, and also
occult, arcane and elitist.” The album itself is a manifesto, a fast-paced, highly dramatic and embellished
work on which today's society sees itself in the mirror of ancient Celtic mythology and knowledge. “The
image, of course, is blood-curling”, Chrigel adds with a bitter grin. “At least to those with eyes to see.” Far
more that a pessimistic swan song for our world, however, »Ategnatos« holds the cathartic promise of
renewal. “Ategnatos is the Gaulish word for ‘reborn’”, Chrigel explains. “To the sharpened mind, it points out
the concealed, long forgotten key to change and renewal.” This, naturally, comes at a price. “There's always
suffering before bliss. And always darkness before light.”

A work based on archaic archetypes and the ancient concept of renewal, »Ategnatos« unfolds an elemental
force to be reckoned with. “These archetypes are still within us. People didn't change that much during the
last 3000 years – and men were always just men.” No wonder the album follows a decidedly darker,
monumental tone that suits them very well. Of course, ELUVEITIE have long found their very own trademark
sound, a sonic adventure often copied but never overcome. With »Ategnatos«, the dedicated nine-piece not
only worked with a real string quartet (a premiere!) and granted Fabienne Erni’s sublime mastery of the
harp the room it deserved; they also undertook a holistic upgrade resulting in some of the most catchy
(‘Ambriamus’), most aggressive (‘Worship’, featuring LAMB OF GOD titan Randy Blythe on guest vocals) or
most epic (‘Black Water Down’) tunes the Swiss Metal nobility has ever offered.

While this may not come as a surprise to those familiar with the zeal and ardor this band is known for, the
whole journey that would eventually give birth to »Ategnatos« was rather unusual. With what quickly
became the most stable, most prolific and most creative line-up yet, ELUVEITIE created the album while
staying at the Zurich University of Arts and more than ever worked as one. This is an accomplishment in itself
given the fact that the Swiss Folk Metal superstars boast a full nine members, but it gets even more special if
you recall the usual process of creation. “From the very beginning of ELUVEITIE, my blueprint for a new
album remained untouched and eventually became a reality. This record, however, is a product of the entire
band. The whole affair was a decidedly spontaneous process allowing the songs to radically change while still
in development.” The instant hit ‘Ambriamus’, for example, only took them two hours to write when they
already were in the studio. “A bit unusual”, Chrigel confesses, “but all the more brilliant.”

Some things, of course, never change. Recordings took place in their beloved New Sound Studio with their
engineer of choice Tommy Vetterli. “Yet it was radically different as we only had four weeks to record this time around – as compared to the eight weeks we had for ‘Origins’.” By taking mixing duties to the skilled
hand of renowned studio wizard Jens Bogren in his Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden, ELUVEITIE
returned to the very spot where they mixed their now legendary »Slania« album more than ten years ago.
“How time flies”, Chrigel exclaims. And with an insurmountable epic like »Ategnatos« under their belts, the
next years are bound to fly by, too. Heavy touring will commence even before the release, taking the band to
South America first. “Asia, Europe and the United States are about to follow, bridged by a massive festival
season”. Oh no, ELUVEITIE are not only back, stronger and fiercer than ever. They are reborn. Truly and
thoroughly reborn, thus becoming an archetype of their own.