Rock/Review Hana Piranha - Elixir of Life

Hana Piranha, the daughter of a Catholic priest, was born during a hurricane; a prophetic beginning that’s exposed in her turbulent and often disturbing songwriting. The singer and multi-instrumentalist grew up in Wellington, New Zealand, moving to England at the age of twelve to pursue her dream of becoming a concert violinist. Disillusioned with the world of classical music, she began pushing boundaries both in art and in life—the two becoming so intertwined that it became hard to know where one ended and the other began.

Oscar Wilde's “The Picture of Dorian Gray” serves as the inspiration for Hana Piranha's fierce rock song, “Elixir of Life,” which is a darkly intoxicating experience. With its combination of eerie, dramatic intensity and razor-sharp riffs, this song transports listeners on a perverse trip into the cost of perpetual youth.

The tone is established right away by the song's eloquent yet ominous guitar work, which produces a sensual yet evil soundtrack. The song transports listeners to a world where beauty is both a blessing and a curse as it rises with an almost mesmerizing charm. Amidst the orchestral turmoil, Hana Piranha's very raw and haunting vocals break through, offering lyrics that like a whispered warning from the depths of addiction.

The themes of the song are further explored in the accompanying horror-themed music video, which features a possessed ballet performance that devolves into lunacy. The visual narrative enhances the track's terrifying message—that perpetual youth could not be as lovely as it seems—as the band members go from immaculate images into hideous nightmares.

“Elixir of Life,” a song from the “Wingspan” album, is a heartwarming blend of beauty and fear that perfectly captures all the qualities that make Hana Piranha such an alluring performer. It's dramatic, dark, and completely engrossing—a sound concoction you won't want to put down.