Sacramento band Elysia have a sound that is difficult to nail down. The album, which was recorded with Kurt Ballou of Converge fame, probably sits best in the overall genre of metal, as although Lion Of Judas has some hardcore and metalcore moments, the band do not really fit into either category. 

From the start the band are brutal with the vocals from Zak Vargas sitting somewhere between yelling and growling but the band due manage to incorporate some unusual breaks into the music which helps to give character to their songs.  While ‘Crown Of Thorns’ has a decent enough start and ‘Plague Of Insects’ delivers some of the more interesting breaks and riffs, it is ‘Box Of Need(les)’ where Elysia are at their best. It is all however very mid paced and many of the songs go by unnoticed, by the time the band up the tempo thanks to the title track’s faster drumming and the guitars kicking in at the end of the CD it is all a bit too little too late. 

With Lion Of Judas Elysia show some promise, however they have a way to go to make what could be considered a killer album. Whilst there certainly aren't any out and out bad songs here there are sadly no amazing ones either.

Darren Brushneen