heavy-metal-darkness: Bendida |Elysian Fields |Psychosounds Music

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Bendida |Elysian Fields |Psychosounds Music

Release Date: October 25^th, 2025
Format: Digital/CD
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Country: Bulgaria

Bendida is a symphonic metal band from Sofia, Bulgaria, founded in 2008 by guitarist and composer Vinnie Atanasov. From the beginning, the band followed a path shaped by metal, classical music and Balkan folklore, building a sound enriched with choir arrangements and uncommon instruments. Across releases like “The Farthest Shore”, “Goddess Of The Moon” and “The First Of The Heroes”, the band gradually expanded their musical palette and presence, sharing stages with Nightwish, Apocalyptica, Kamelot and Sirenia. “Elysian Fields” arrives as their third full length album and features a guest appearance by Fabio Lione, adding another familiar voice to Bendida’s myth driven world.

“Elysian Fields” presents Bendida fully immersed in mythological and fantasy inspired storytelling. The lyrical themes draw from Sumerian, Slavic and Thracian legends, with touches of science fiction woven into the narratives. The album unfolds with a strong cinematic character, guided by orchestration, choirs and folk elements that underline the band’s interest in atmosphere and epic imagery. The songwriting follows clear structures, allowing the stories to unfold without excessive detours or unnecessary ornamentation.

The band’s sound is shaped by a broad instrumental palette. Alongside guitars, bass and drums, violin, flute, French horn, viola da gamba and tambura play an important role in defining the album’s identity. These elements are integrated throughout the material and support the songs in a consistent way. The arrangements favor clarity and balance, keeping the focus on melody and narrative development.

Vocally, “Elysian Fields” relies on the contrast between clean lines, choirs and dramatic delivery. Kremena Nikolova’s performance anchors the album with a steady and expressive presence, while the guest appearance by Fabio Lione on “Fire And Ice” adds a familiar symphonic metal character that fits naturally within the album’s framework. The vocal layers are used to enhance the epic scope of the material, staying aligned with the album’s mythic themes.

“Elysian Fields” reflects a band comfortable within its chosen musical territory, offering a well shaped symphonic metal album built around storytelling, orchestration and folklore influences. It speaks mainly to listeners drawn to epic narratives and layered arrangements, especially fans of Rhapsody, Epica and Nightwish. The album holds together as a cohesive work and reinforces Bendida’s position within the European symphonic metal landscape.

Score: 7.5