ELEINE – Enemies – Acoustic (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

New Acoustic Single and Video

Swedish metal outfit ELEINE unveil a stark, compelling reimagining of one of their hardest-hitting songs with the release of Enemies (Acoustic). Issued through Atomic Fire Records, the single arrives alongside an official performance video and anchors the band’s acoustic EP, Acoustic In Hell, released on October 14, 2022. The track reframes a fan favorite in a stripped-back setting that places melody, phrasing, and lyrical intent at the forefront.

From Steel to Wood: Recasting “Enemies”

“Enemies” has long been a showcase for ELEINE’s assertive songwriting and dramatic tension. In acoustic form, the composition breathes differently yet preserves its core spirit. The arrangement is centered on voice and guitar, with measured percussive accents that substitute force for finesse. Without the distorted wall of sound, the interplay between Madeleine Liljestam and Rikard Ekberg becomes the focal point. Their voices lock into harmonized passages that underline the song’s defiant refrain, while the guitar work carries both rhythmic drive and melodic counterlines.

The dynamic contour remains intact, but the climaxes arrive through contrast rather than volume. Spaces between phrases feel deliberate and weighted, allowing tension to rise on breath and resonance. Subtle cymbal work and restrained drum patterns elevate the chorus without crowding it, and the arrangement leans on clarity and articulation instead of sheer impact. The result is a faithful yet revealing reinterpretation that highlights the band’s songwriting beneath the armor of amplification.

Strength, Solidarity, Survival

Lyrically, “Enemies” is a call to stand one’s ground. Lines like “The truth always survives” and “We are one as we stand against our enemies” crystallize a stance of unflinching resolve, pairing physical imagery with a collective oath. In this acoustic setting, the words take on a closer, almost confessional presence. Where the original version confronted from a distance, the new recording brings the listener into the circle, trading triumphalist posture for hard-won calm. It is a song about endurance, unity, and the refusal to flinch, and the arrangement frames those themes without distraction.

Sound and Vision

The official video foregrounds performance. Produced, directed, and edited by Rikard Ekberg and Madeleine Liljestam, and filmed by David Elg (Moob AB), it moves with the same intention as the recording: tight framing, precise pacing, and a focus on the communicative weight of voice and hands. The edit tracks the song’s internal rise and fall, cutting closer as tension builds and relaxing when the arrangement opens up. It is an unadorned, tactile document of a band confident enough to let the song carry itself.

Inside the Session

“Enemies (Acoustic)” was written and produced by Rikard Ekberg and Madeleine Liljestam. Recording, mixing, and mastering were handled by Thomas “Plec” Johansson at The Panic Room, whose engineering favors presence, separation, and natural transients. The production avoids excessive layering, opting for a close, live feel that suits the material. You hear fingers on strings, breath before a line, cymbals that bloom and fade. The minimalist approach amplifies the intent of the lyric and preserves the intimacy of the performance.

Acoustic In Hell: Context and Intent

The single forms part of Acoustic In Hell, a release that reexamines key pieces from ELEINE’s catalog through a wooden-and-wire lens. The EP arrived in step with a seven-week run as special guests to Sonata Arctica in fall and winter 2022, a tour that emphasized acoustic reinterpretations across theaters, churches, clubs, and halls throughout Scandinavia, the UK, Western Europe, and into Central and Eastern Europe. Presented in venues such as Södra Teatern in Stockholm and Christuskirche in Bochum, these settings complemented the project’s restrained power, placing clarity and proximity over spectacle.

Performance and Presence

ELEINE remain anchored by their core trio, with Madeleine Liljestam on vocals, Rikard Ekberg on guitar and vocals, and Jesper Sunnhagen on drums. For live settings, the group is joined by session musicians Filip Stålberg on bass and Victor Jonasson on guitar, rounding out the acoustic texture with low-end grounding and additional harmonic color. The lineup’s economy serves the material well, translating intensity into poise and sustain.

Credits

Song: Enemies (Acoustic)
Written and produced by: Rikard Ekberg & Madeleine Liljestam
Recorded, mixed and mastered by: Thomas “Plec” Johansson (The Panic Room)
Video produced, directed and edited by: Rikard Ekberg & Madeleine Liljestam
Filmed by: David Elg, Moob AB
Label: Atomic Fire Records

Special thanks are extended to Allen Wilson, Martin Blom, Jordon King, and Martina Henriksson, with further gratitude to the band’s patrons for supporting the creation of the video. ELEINE also acknowledge support from Schecter Guitars, Richter Straps, Sennheiser, Shrine of Hollywood, Into Music Lund, Meinl Cymbals, Deadly Seams, and Heartbreak Tattoo.

Availability and Support

Enemies (Acoustic) is available on major digital platforms. The Acoustic In Hell EP is offered in physical editions, including CD and vinyl, with merchandise and curated bundles available through the band’s official store. Fans can also join ELEINE’s community-driven fan club to support future projects and gain access to exclusive content.

Enemies (Acoustic) does not dull the blade of the original. It sharpens it differently, letting the song’s core cut through on breath, wood, and steel, and reminding that conviction, when carried with care, can be louder than volume.