Metal Anarchy

Time for the next edition of Metal Anarchy’s “new music showcase,” the feature where I introduce you to artists that readers of this site may find interesting. This time I have a Q&A with Eloaħ.

METAL ANARCHY: Tell me a little about your band:

ELOAĦ: ELOAĦ is an eclectic and experimental musical project that has been active since 1995. Initially started as a solo singer-songwriter project by me (Elmar), it has evolved into a collaborative endeavour involving a diverse and international group of musicians from different genres. Our current line-up features Orion Roos on electric guitars, Peter Douwenga on bass guitars, Johan van der Meer on drums and percussion, Dominik Mittergradnegger on saxophone, Lila Herderberg on vocals, Zarja Medved on viola, and myself on vocals, acoustic guitars, and keyboards. Our music blends elements of rock, jazz, new age, and improvisation, aiming to offer a unique and emotional journey for our listeners.

METAL ANARCHY: Who are your main influences?

ELOAĦ: Well, I can only answer this question for myself, as each of us has very different influences. Personally, my influences are quite diverse. From the classical side, I admire composers like Dimitri Shostakovich, while in rock and heavy music, bands such as Savatage and Virgin Steele have been significant inspirations. In jazz, Keith Jarrett has played an important role in shaping my perspective. My love for singer-songwriters like Herman van Veen and Reinhard Mey, as well as extraordinary artists like Tori Amos, also influences our work. That said, this is just my perspective, each musician in ELOAĦ brings their own unique set of influences, enriching the depth and variety of our sound.

METAL ANARCHY: What is your latest release and why should readers of this site check it out?

ELOAĦ: Our latest release is “The Book of Pain,” an album that explores themes of grief, longing, and resilience. It’s a deeply emotional and immersive experience, featuring 17 tracks designed to take listeners on a cathartic journey through human suffering and hope. While it is not a concept album, each song represents a “chapter” in the story of overcoming life’s challenges. We hope it resonates with anyone navigating similar struggles.

With this album, we aimed to blend genres such as rock, jazz, new age, and classical music into a cohesive narrative, striving to make it both eclectic and idiosyncratic. The tracks are layered with emotional depth, featuring heavy guitars on one hand and floating viola and saxophone arrangements on the other. If you enjoy music that combines authenticity with emotional richness, we believe it’s well worth checking out.

METAL ANARCHY: What can people expect when they go to your live shows?

ELOAĦ: As an international project with members spread across Europe, we rarely perform live together. However, each member of ELOAĦ is actively involved in other musical projects that frequently play live. For example, Lila Herderberg regularly performs with the LiLA y Geckos trio in Graz, Austria; Orion Roos often plays with Maestro and Metalbats at various venues in the Netherlands; Zarja Medved regularly plays classical music live with different musicians, and Johan van der Meer participates in live events as a drummer in the Netherlands. My most recent performance was a piano improvisation at an event held at the planetarium in The Hague. Currently, we are discussing the possibility of a live set after completing the recording of our next album.

METAL ANARCHY: Where do you see your band heading in 5 years?

ELOAĦ: In five years, I see ELOAĦ continuing to explore new musical landscapes and pushing the boundaries of genre. We’ re currently working on a gospel and jazz-inspired project. While studio work remains our focus, I hope to organize more live performances to share our music directly with fans. Ultimately, our goal is to keep creating music that is authentic, emotionally resonant, and creatively fulfilling for both us and our listeners.