Elliot Vernon

The Flame

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Genre: Metal, Symphonic Metal, Power Metal.
Released: 04/05/2021
Via Elephant Records

EP Review: Elliot Vernon – The Flame

Elliot Vernon may have drunk all your beer and stole all your rum with Alestorm but now he’s here to completely change it up with his solo EP titled ‘The Flame’. Fans of the keyboardist have not been shy about their excitement around the new music so I just had to check out what all the noise was about. Here are my thoughts on Elliot Vernon’s ‘The Flame’.

The EP kicks off with ‘The Lamp Post’, A nice mix of heavy and symphony. Spine-tingling gutturals add a lot of passion to the track and the consistent beat allows the song to become memorable after just a few listens. If you were expecting a more comical style like you’d find in Elliot Vernon’s band Alestorm, you’re in for one hell of a surprise. Speaking of surprises, ‘The Flame’ has surprisingly been stuck in my head ever since I listened to it. The song has some catchy riffs and an awesome amount of charisma is on display throughout this track. As title tracks go, this is certainly one of the better ones I’ve heard recently. 

Continuing down the EP you’ll be greeted by ‘The Looking Glass’. I found this song to be a bit hit or miss. I thought the string sections sounded incredible however I wasn’t a fan of the way the song flowed or progressed. Almost tripping over itself, as the contrasts just dont synergise very well, unfortunately. Certainly not the best number from this EP. 

As the conclusion of the EP draws closer, ‘The Tempest’ is the perfect way to build up to the finale. The high level of energy that is put into this song is not wasted as the track is extremely catchy and boasts some of the best phrases on the entire record. I won’t lie, when I saw that the final track was over 7 minutes long I was sceptical however, Elliot Vernon has knocked it out of the park. This track is a musical marvel which boasts a tonne of contrasting styles that link together well. The song doesn’t drag at any point and it’s one of those longer songs that make you want to listen to them again.

Elliot Vernon’s first solo project has turned out to be one of the more memorable releases from this year for me. I love the inclusion of the string section over a heavy style and I cannot wait to see how he plans on furthering his solo venture. This is a must listen release!