Band:	Devil Doll
Album:	Eliogabalus
Style:	Progressive rock, Symphonic rock
Website:	http://www.devildoll.nl/
Release date:	May 05, 1990
Guest review by:	Warman

01. Mr. Doctor
02. Eliogabalus

"Eliogabalus" is nothing new after its forerunner, but compared to most other metal albums it's a giant in originality. The Devil Doll sound is classic and intact. No significant changes. Although "The Girl Who Was...Death" can be considered to be their absolute horror album, "Eliogabalus" is more sad. But don't worry, the horror pieces are still here and alive. It still sounds like a nightmare, in the good way.

This time the lyrics are based on the Roman Emperor Elagabalus. As always, exceptional work. Mr. Doctor's voice is still just as good, operatic and remarkable. He still screams, shrieks, whisper, talks, goes from low to high, high to low and sings with his wonderful clean vocals. At some places he even surprised me by singing more beautiful than ever. The shock factor never disappears, his voice is astonishing.

There's something with this album that may seem new, but really isn't. Now there's two songs, not one long one as before. But the two tracks do belong to each other. "Eliogabalus" is just a continuation of "Mr. Doctor". Budget problems forced the band to split the song into two, so they could release it on vinyl. So we do actually get an epic song of 45 minutes.

How the song is built up is also the same as before. Slow passages in one moment, a massive explosion of orchestras and electric instruments in the other. Some parts so great and awesome that forces you to come back over and over again. While "The Girl Who Was...Death" probably had the greatest parts of the Devil Doll discography, "Eliogabalus" has the most beautiful. The "The unnameable / Gave me the axe / To lop off the head / Sever the limbs / Disguise coldy/ And throw away" is by far one of the most lovely parts music has to offer.

For a fan of any Devil Doll release this is a must. It can't be disliked if you like the band. If you've never heard them there's no problems with starting here. If you can find it.

By the way. Last time I was nagging about that awesome violin. This time I just have to mention the outro of the album. An accordion has never ever sounded so good and beautiful.