Canadian Symphonic / Celtic Metal artist Leah is currently working on her brand new Celtic Metal album. Guest musicians on this album will be Troy Donockley (Nightwish), Chen Balbus (Orphaned Land), Timo Somers (Delain), Barend Courbois (Blind Guardian), Sander Zoer (Ex-Delain). In a new update she says:

Hello!! Seasons greetings from myself and my small, but mighty team at Ex Cathedra Records!

I wanted to give you a little update on music, album stuff, and some great holiday deals happening.

First, I am JUST about to FINALLY wrap up vocals for this epic album. It’s been quite a journey for me this year.

I had really hoped to originally release this album this year, right about now. But alas, life’s demands had me very busy and I needed to continue to chip away at it. So I am just about to finish the last song, and that’s it!

The mixing and mastering is scheduled for late January with the honorable Jacob Hansen (Amaranth, Epica, Primal Fear).

After that, there’s a bit of a lengthy period of time from when you’re holding the finished product in your hand with artwork and all of that, until the actual release date. The reason is because it takes some time — months in fact — to get it to the distributors and store owners. Therefore, we are looking at a release date into the 2nd quarter of 2018 for sure. I can’t make any promises on a solid date yet. But just to give you an idea of how it works.

Even though it will still be some time, I promise to bring you along the journey of that whole process because I think it’s important for fans to see what goes into an album.
It really is a LOT of work!

Also, we will definitely be doing a crowdfunding campaign as this album wraps up, and we have plans to do some great things – including an epic music video, and I want to be able to offer you some extremely cool bundles and custom merch items. So watch for that in the coming months!

For a little sneak peak of what I’ve been working on vocally (and an entire chorus from a track off the album!), See here my recent post on Instagram
(you can still view it even if you don’t have an account).

The background of the song ‘Elixir Of Life’

This song started out as a demo for Kings & Queens, originally called ‘Alchemy.’ I originally thought it might make a cool interlude, but as I already had way too many songs for K&Q, it quickly didn’t make the cut. Some of my VIP fans have already heard that original demo in its original form, as a rough home recording.

As I’m wrapping up the vocals for the new album I had a bit of a “musical A.D.D. moment” and thought it would be fun to give this song a little makeover and develop it a little further – which was completely off track of making the album.

And so with the help of Oliver Philipps (Everon, Phantasma), who is currently producing my upcoming album, we made this into a fun experimental track. (Thank you, Oliver, for being spontaneous with me).

It includes some medieval instruments and percussion, lots of layered vocals, ethereal pads, and some electronica beats.

The mood of this song for me is all about a medieval chill vibe, which I hope you will find enjoyable while reading or playing your favorite game.
The rhythm at the end of the song is technically an Indian percussive beat, so it’s still fitting with the overall sound while bringing some energy.

I stuck with extra nerdy lyrics, so as not to get pigeon-holed into any pop-related genre, ever! 😉 In all seriousness, I’ve been playing Skyrim with my kids and since the song was originally called Alchemy, I went with that whole theme and made up a little storyline in my mind.

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This character is on a quest for immortality (as they have been for thousands of years in every culture now). He discovers the ultimate potion in a cave, filled with magical light beaming in, illuminating the liquid gold even more. Ahhh, the treasured Elixir of Life! Next thing you know, he is old…. very very old, and ultimately alone. When you’ve lived that long, you’ve seen a lot and not much surprises you anymore. One day he finds his dream lover – but seeing she is mortal, he knows there is no way to bring her with him through time, except to also give her the coveted Elixir of Life. But there is a great cost….

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That’s basically where it ends for now. Maybe there is a part 2 in the future. I’m open to suggestion on what happens next!

I hope you enjoy this, and let me know what hobby/activity this song becomes your soundtrack for!

LYRICS:

In this madness of immortality
Shining in the dawn’s light
Through the glassy mirror
The Elixir of Life
………………………………..
Once upon a time in a fairytale
I want to make you mine
Forever intertwined in this paradigm
I want to make you mine
With the Elixir of Life

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Credits:
Written by Leah McHenry
All vocals by Leah McHenry
Produced & mixed by Oliver Philipps
Mastered at Eroc’s Mastering Ranch

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Video for ‘Elixir Of Life’