A State Of Transitory Bliss: BÖHMEN – ‘Elysium’ Review

Words: Ruby Corrigan

Manchester’s freshest band BÖHMEN have been on an absolute roll, and with the release of their 3rd single of the year today, it’s clear that there is no stopping them. 

Their latest track is titled ‘Elysium’ – a state of transitory bliss, and that is certainly what the tune is. Commenting on the inspiration for the track, the band said that it was ‘conceived from a feeling of shared pain’ and that they wanted to convey ‘the highest of highs to the lowest of lows’, and they have absolutely achieved that. ‘Elysium’ opens in a state of tranquility, with a delicately picked guitar riff akin to the likes of John Frusciante. Upon first listening, this light, almost tinkling segment of instrumentation combined with gentle, introspective vocals easily lulled me into a false sense of security, honestly I thought that i was simply going to be listening to a beautiful indie rock ballad, but boy was I proven wrong. 

What makes this piece of music so triumphant is the band’s masterful usage of dynamics. Featuring heavily throughout ‘Elysium’ is BÖHMEN’s signature blend of gut punching drum rhythms and shredding guitars, yet there is still an air of cohesivity between the lyrical verses and the heart throbbing chorus. This has been achieved through the  building of the rest of the instrumentals around that one acoustic section that features at the beginning of the song. Doing this has seriously elevated the band’s mastery of musical composition, as it means that despite the completely different auras projected in the verses and chorus, it flows absolutely seamlessly, creating one, unified piece of art.  

If you haven’t already listened to this fantastic band, thne make sure to make ‘Elysium’, your introduction, as it is truly their best work to date.

AND If you think BÖHMEN were stopping there, then you are wholly mistaken. The band are set to head out on tour later this year, make sure to catch them at one of their dates: 

Salford – ‘Eagle Inn’ – 08/11/24

Shrewsbury – ‘Albert’s Shed’ – 14/11/24

Birmingham – ‘Rainbow’ – 15/11/24

Stockport – ‘AMP’ – 21/11/24

Liverpool – ‘Shipping Forecast’ – 22/11/24

Stream their latest single, ‘Elysium’ below!