With their 12th studio album Set The Dark On Fire due to be released on the 16th January and their return to the Steamhammer/SPV label, Edenbridge explores new soundscapes without abandoning their tried and tested trademarks. This is primarily due to a significantly heavier basic sound, which harmonizes perfectly with the lyrical and visual direction of the Austrian quintet, around the awesome singer Sabine Edelsbacher and composer/guitarist/keyboardist Lanvall.
Keeping the momentum with Set the Dark on Fire
Onto the music, The Ghost Ship Diaries is a symphonic metal belter to kick things off and what a way to start this awesome record, already a fave! Second one in, the catchy Cosmic Embrace keeps up the momentum, and I am already beginning to like this. To add, I cannot find fault with this album – tracks like Where The Wild Things Are, Tears of the Prophets which is an atmospheric intro to Our Place Among the Stars, this being a mid paced awesome slab of melodic metal, what more can a fan of this genre ask for?
Sabine as always nails it
And let’s not forget the title track that is an up-tempo metal banger, Bonded By The Light is the customary symphonic power ballad and Sabine as always nails it, Divine Dawn Reveal being another instrumental using the electric sitar among others, that in turn lead us into the up-tempo and progressive metal of Lighthouse. But the album’s centerpiece has to be the 13-minute, four-part long track Spark Of The Everflame which closes the album and impressively summarizes the entire spectrum of the Edenbridge sound.
Summing up
Indeed, to summarize, this record gives the listener powerful riffs and expansive guitar solos that meet opulent, symphonic orchestral arrangements and unusual string instruments rarely used in metal, such as the dulcimer, swarmandal, monochord, and electric sitar. Sabine Edelsbacher‘s warm, distinctive voice as always lends the compositions a high level of recognition and Lanvall, what a guy! Well recommended!
Track List
- The Ghosthip Diaries
- Cosmic Embrace
- Where The Wild Things Are
- Tears Of The Prophets
- Our Place Among The Stars
- Set The Dark On Fire
- Bonded By The Light
- Divine Dawn Reveal
- Lighthouse
- Spark Of The Everflame – Let Time Begin
- Spark Of The Everflame – The Winding Road To Evermore
- Spark Of The Everflame – Per Aspera Ad Astra
- Spark Of The Everflame – Where It Ends, Is Where It Starts
Line Up
- Sabine Edelsbacher – Vocals
- Lanvall – Lead & Rhythm Guitar, 6 & 12 String Acoustic Guitar, Piano & Keyboards, Hammered Dulcimer, Electric Sitar, Bouzouki, Ukulele, Swarmandal, Mandolin, Monochord, Tampura
- Johannes Gral – Drums
- Steve Hall – Bass
- Sven Sevens – Lead Guitar