The Enigma of Life

The Enigma of Life
Studio album by Sirenia
Released	21 January 2011 (Europe)
Recorded	July–November 2010 (Audio Avenue Studios/Sound Suite Studios)
Genre	Symphonic metal
Length	54:35
Language	English, Spanish
Label	Nuclear Blast
Producer	Morten Veland
Sirenia chronology
The 13th Floor (2009) The Enigma of Life (2011) Perils of the Deep Blue (2013)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	[1]
Allmusic	[2]
Metal Storm	6.0 [3]
Revolver	2/5 [4]
Sputnikmusic	2.0 [5]

The Enigma of Life is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian gothic metal band Sirenia and their second with the Spanish vocalist Ailyn. It was released in Europe on 21 January 2011 through Nuclear Blast ^[6] and in North America on 15 February 2011. The album was mastered at Finnvox Studios in Finland. The download-only single, "The End of It All", was released on 21 December 2010.

Track listing

All songs written by Morten Veland.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The End of It All"	4:31
2.	"Fallen Angel"	3:59
3.	"All My Dreams"	4:42
4.	"This Darkness"	4:00
5.	"The Twilight in Your Eyes"	4:00
6.	"Winter Land"	3:55
7.	"A Seaside Serenade"	5:53
8.	"Darkened Days to Come"	4:22
9.	"Coming Down"	4:38
10.	"This Lonely Lake"	3:33
11.	"Fading Star"	4:46
12.	"The Enigma of Life"	6:16
Total length:		54:35

Japanese edition bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Oscura Realidad" ("Dark Reality") (Japanese edition bonus track, Spanish version of "This Darkness")	4:31
14.	"The Enigma of Life" (acoustic, Japanese edition bonus track)	5:51
15.	"Fallen Angel" (acoustic, Japanese edition bonus track)	3:45
Total length:		68:42

Exclusive bonus version

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Oscura Realidad" ("Dark Reality" – Spanish version of "This Darkness")	4:31
14.	"El Enigma de la Vida" ("The Enigma of Life" (acoustic) – Spanish version of "The Enigma of Life")	5:51
15.	"El Enigma de la Vida" ( iTunes exclusive bonus track)	6:16
Total length:		71:13

North American Edition Bonus Tracks

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Oscura Realidad" ("Dark Reality" – Spanish version of "This Darkness")
14.	"El Enigma de la Vida" ("The Enigma of Life" (acoustic) – Spanish version of "The Enigma of Life")

• "The End of It All" has a video.

Personnel

Sirenia

• Morten Veland – vocals, all other instruments
• Ailyn – vocals

Session musicians

• Stephanie Valentin – violins
• Damien Surian, Mathieu Landry, Emmanuelle Zoldan, Sandrine Gouttebel, Emilie Lesbros – The Sirenian Choir

Additional notes

• Spanish translations of "El Enigma de la Vida" and "Oscura Realidad" by Ailyn
• "The Enigma of Life" was recorded in Audio Avenue Studios (Tau, Norway), additional recordings of choirs, acoustic guitars and violin were recorded in Sound Suite Studios (Marseille, France)
• Written, composed, arranged, produced, mixed and engineered by Morten Veland
• Pre-produced in Audio Avenue Studios (Tau, Norway)
• Mastered by Mika Jussila, Finnvox Studios
• A+R by Jaap Waagemaker
• Cover artwork & design by Gustavo Sazes
• Band photos by Patric Ullaeus

Charts

Chart (2011)	Peak position
German Albums Chart [7]	73
Swiss Albums Chart [7]	53

References

1. Chad Bowar. "Sirenia The Enigma Of Life Review – Review of The Enigma Of Life by Sirenia". About. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
2. "Allmusic review".
3. "Sirenia – The Enigma Of Life review – Metal Storm" . Retrieved 17 September 2014.
4. "Review: Sirenia – The Enigma Of Life - Hard Rock & Heavy Metal News - Music Videos -Golden Gods Awards - revolvermag.com". Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
5. "Sirenia – The Enigma Of Life (album review ) – Sputnikmusic" . Retrieved 17 September 2014.
6. Blabbermouth.net SIRENIA: New Album Track Listing, Cover Artwork, Release Date Revealed
7. "Sirenia – the Enigma of Life – ultratop.be". Ultratop .

External links

• Metallum Archives
• The Enigma of Life at discogs.com