Elysian Fields - Definition

​Elysian Fields

Definition
self-released; 2026

By Jamie Funk

By 1995, the center of rock had shifted hard. Grunge had already burned through the mainstream, alternative radio had redrawn the map, and the glossy architecture of 1980s pop metal suddenly sounded like a relic from another weather system. That makes Definition, the 1995 album from Utah-based pop-rock band Elysian Fields, an odd time capsule. Built around the songwriting of James Shumway and Mark Roos and the vocals of Kerri Murray, the record sounds committed to a style that had recently lost its commercial gravity but now in 2026 can perhaps find a new audience.

The album opens with “When the Days Get Hot,” and right away the band seems much closer to the 1980s than the 1990s. The track has traces of Rush and a few metal acts from that era, with bright guitars, dramatic turns, and a polished sense of scale. “No Matter What” moves into ballad territory, and it also carries that 80s imprint clearly. “My Fantasy” pushes toward a poppier direction, while “Here You Come Here I Go” adds saxophone and lead guitar that brings Joe Satriani to mind.

“Staying With You” is another ballad, and I could picture hearing something in this lane at a middle school dance. It has that slow-dance sincerity, full of big emotion and a kind of clean melodrama. “Shattered Lives” and “Eternal Flame” both have their moments, even when the writing stays close to its influences. “Waves” adds a slight fantasy element, while “Desert Sky” picks up the pace with a motivational quality that sounds fit for a movie montage. “Take My Hand” and “Wings to Fly” continue to showcase the bands talent.

Truth be told, Definition came out after Nirvana and the larger grunge movement had made much of 80s metal sound out of touch. I remember that shift clearly from coming of age during that period. Even in 1995, this record would have landed at a moment when this style was already losing its pull with a general audience. It might have made a stronger initial impact a few years earlier.

​Still, time has a strange way of changing the frame around a record. In 2026, plenty of 80s production choices, arena-sized hooks, glossy ballads, and big guitar gestures have found new relevance again, even if they once sounded dated in the shadow of grunge. That gives Definition a different kind of appeal now. It is not chasing the sound of 1995. It is holding onto the previous decade with both hands, and for listeners drawn to that mix of power ballads, metal polish, and slight prog tendencies, that might be exactly the point.

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