Welcome to the feature where we sit down and talk to bands and artists about their latest albums to find out all about it. Today we speak to the band Eloah about the new album The Book Of Pain.

Hello nice to meet you, tell us about yourself!

Hello, I am Elmar, singer and frontman of ELOAĦ, and I am happy to announce that our latest album, The Book of Pain, has just been released!

Tell us about the new album

“This album is the fulfilment of a dream for me – it is the heaviest, most rock-like album we’ve ever produced. Every song was inspired by different forms of pain, longing, and suffering, each expressing a range of emotions. You’ll find sadness, anger, and frustration here, but it all culminates in hope. The final track, ‘We Shall Rise,’ reflects the belief that pain is merely a transformation into something better.”

Favourite track in new album and why?

I don’t have a favourite track – or rather, every single track has been my favourite at some point during the production. What I enjoy listening to most right now are probably ‘Serendipity,’ because the emotions that inspired me to write it were quite intense, and ‘We Shall Rise’ – because it’s just so incredibly positive!”

Tell us a bit about the recording process, was it fun to do?

Oh yes, it was a lot of fun – the process lasted for more than two years, and some tracks even contain recordings from the early 2000s (for example, the vocals of my late friend Jörg Horner). As a band, this has been the most fun we’ve ever had recording. I remember amazing sessions with Peter (bass guitar) and Johan (drums), experimenting with different rhythms to maximize the groove. We also had equally fun sessions with Orion (guitar), Sylvia (vocals), Dominik (saxophone), and for the first time, Zarja, who recently joined the band and has greatly enhanced ELOAĦ’s musical variety with her beautiful viola playing.

What inspired the album name?

The common theme throughout the album is a collection of songs inspired by various forms of emotional pain, so it made sense to call it The Book of Pain. It also reflect a number of particularly painful chapters of my life, which I now view as a learning experience. I hope it helps listeners who may be going through similar situations.

Tell us the idea behind the album cover?

Since the album is called The Book of Pain, it made sense to us to depict some kind of book cover. And because it’s a rock album, the idea of engraving or burning something into leather felt fitting. While searching for a symbol to represent pain, my Chinese friend Xiaoxia (who is also featured on the album) kindly asked a friend to draw the Chinese symbol for ‘pain’ for the cover.

What one of your songs on the new album do you think will the most difficult to rehearse for a live audience?

Because my dear friend Jörg Horner passed away many years ago, the song Golden Summer (Girl to Adore) will naturally be impossible to perform live. Songs like Somehow Extraordinary or The Void, with their more complex instrumental arrangements, will also be quite challenging to perform.

Why should people listen to the album?

Most importantly, people should listen to our newest album because they enjoy the music. And if they haven’t heard it yet, they should give it a try to see if it resonates with them. The album explores a wide range of emotional experiences, and perhaps listeners will find themselves identifying with one or more of the situations described in the songs. Music has a unique way of connecting with our emotions, and by hearing a song that reflects their own struggles or pain, listeners may find comfort, understanding, or even a sense of healing. It’s more than just music; it’s a journey through emotions that many of us share, and that connection can be powerful.