Edenbridge - My Earth Dream
CD Info
2008
Napalm Records
10 Tracks
English Lyrics
Edenbridge have always been a band of which I’ve always been rather fond. Their music is definitely quite cheesy most of the time and the vocals are not to everyone’s taste, though these elements are why I’m a fan of the band (nothing wrong with a bit of cheese now and then I say). Their previous album, The Grand Design, was a disappointment when compared with their previous album, Shine. There definitely were some great moments during The Grand Design, though it was too ballad-y and syrup-y for an album with only 8 tracks. This started to make me fear that Edenbridge had already hit their career high with Shine, and everything else wouldn’t be as good. With their new release, MyEarthDream, do Edenbridge continue on the downward spiral?
After listening to this album quite a few times, the answer to that question would be a resounding "no." This is an absolutely fantastic album! MyEarthDream still has that Edenbridge "flavor" to it, though the band has definitely progressed. Virtually every element in Edenbridge has been improved! Sabine’s never sounded better, orchestration is fabulous (and they’ve actually used a full orchestra for this album), drumming is superb, and the guitars are as addictive as always. Also worth mentioning about the music is how heavy it is. This is by far Edenbridge’s heaviest effort—thanks in part to the fantastic drumming. There are even a couple of lines of growls to be heard during the title track. Yes…growls…in an Edenbridge song…who’da thunk it?
The album opens up with a nice and epic sounding intro "The Force Within" which leads into "Shadowplay"—this has to be one of my favorite Edenbridge songs to date. This is certainly one of their heaviest tracks and the guitar solo in this song sounds very unlike usual Edenbridge guitar solos I think. "Paramount", "Undying Devotion", and "Adamentine" are next, and are all great tracks with melodies you’ll be humming for days. "Whale Rider", the first and only real ballad, is next. There are no elements of metal in this song at all—it’s just the orchestra and Sabine. It’s probably one of my least favorite tracks on the album, though it shows just how far Sabine has come as a vocalist—just compare her performance on this song to a ballad on Sunrise in Eden. "Remember Me" follows, and has an insanely catchy melody in both the verses and the chorus—another one of my favorites from the album. "Fallen From Grace" and "Place of Higher Power" are after, and are certainly good tracks (with the former having a nice oriental sound). The title track closes the album, and it’s another highlight. Despite its length (12 minutes—the longest Edenbridge song to date), it doesn’t really sound epic to me. Though, that’s not really a complaint more than just an observation. The track is split up into several parts, all of which are interesting and very good. A very nice ending to the album!
I’m quite happy Edenbridge have seemingly regained their footing. For me, this is by far the best album to be released in 2008 thus far. Very highly recommended to all interested in female fronted metal!
9.5 / 10
