Los Angeles-based cinematic hard rockers EDGE OF PARADISE are set to unleash their sixth studio album, Prophecy, on March 7, 2025, marking their debut with Napalm Records. Known for their intense, genre-bending sound on albums like “Universe” (2019), “The Unknown” (2021), and “Hologram” (2023), the band explores the existential threat of AI-driven singularity on Prophecy. Frontwoman Margarita Monet reflects, “”Prophecy” kind of touches on all of this, in a way. With this album, I take a bit of a stance on my viewpoint.”
Filming the new promo video for Edge of Paradise
Hi Margarita, welcome back to Femme Metal Webzine. How are you? How is this period treating you? I know that you are also really busy with the promotion.
Oh, yeah, everything is good. Um, we’ve been, we just got back from Salton Seas, California. We filmed a video there. So we, I think we got up like five in the morning and three days in a row.
Filming the new promo video part 2
It’s heavy, man — okay. Well, I hope you manage to get some sleep tonight. So, “Prophecy“, the upcoming album, is set to drop in March — about a month from now. I wanted to ask, what was it like producing this album after “Hologram”?
This album is a continuation of “Hologram“, and I was looking forward to making the next record. After we released “Hologram“, I also made a graphic novel, so I had this whole story in my head that I wanted to continue. So yeah, I was excited to dive back in.
What ended up happening was — we were switching labels, so we had to hurry up and get this record done. It’s our first album with Napalm, and we were on a bit of a deadline because we had a European tour coming up with some festival dates. So yeah, we were a little rushed, but honestly, I think that pressure helped us. It gave the album this extra energy that maybe we didn’t have before.
It’s a testament to Edge of Paradise
In a way, it’s kind of a testament to the band — you know, all the obstacles we’ve faced over the years, and how we’ve always found a way to push through and keep going. I feel like we captured that fire and passion on this record because we just love what we do.
We also have a new band member, Doug Weiand, on guitar, and he’s playing an 8-string, which added a whole new dimension to the music.
Production-wise, we stuck with the same team — we recorded with Mike Plotnikoff and Jacob Hansen. By now, we’ve built a really strong comfort level with them, so the whole process felt smooth. Everything just came together really nicely.
The new chapter “Prophecy” for Edge of Paradise
If “Hologram” was the first chapter of the history of this deadly planet called HD189733189733b, which was enduring the reign of terror. Now with “Prophecy”, where are we heading next?
Thank you for reading that quote. So, “Prophecy“, in a way, actually takes place on Earth. With the previous records, I started building this whole idea of other worlds — especially with Universe, where I started shaping this sci-fi setting. I’ve always tried to give the songs a futuristic, sci-fi backdrop, but the messages themselves are very personal. They’re often based on my views and experiences — I just like to frame them within these larger, otherworldly stories.
Looking back to the previous chapters
That approach set the stage for this album. With “The Unknown“, I started exploring the idea of merging with technology, and “Digital Paradise“ introduced the concept of living forever through a digital existence. I never really say whether that’s a good or bad thing — I like leaving it open-ended for the listener to decide how they feel about it.
With “Hologram“, the story took us to this deadly planet, where we traveled as holograms because our physical bodies wouldn’t survive there anymore. And from there, all sorts of things unfolded — consciousness getting lost, AI being introduced into the story — I wanted to paint a picture of everything that could go wrong.
Sparking some thought and conversation
My goal has always been to spark some thought and conversation about the implications of technology, and how these futuristic ideas aren’t that far off from where we’re heading in real life. I think we’re already seeing the beginnings of this merger between humanity and technology, and it’s something I want to keep exploring through our music.
Merging technology with humanity
Yeah, I agree with you. Honestly, this whole discussion is already sparking so many ideas in my head. We’re talking about merging technology with humanity, and it immediately makes me think of things like ChatGPT — or even all those AI-generated bands popping up on YouTube. It’s crazy when I think back to my childhood. I’m 35 now, and I was born at a time when we didn’t even have cell phones. I had to learn how to use a smartphone right at the turn of the 2000s. It’s wild to see how far we’ve come — and everything you’re saying right now makes me think. It might sound silly at first, but when you stop to consider it, it’s not silly at all. It’s pretty profound.
“Prophecy“ kind of touches on all of this, in a way. With this album, I take a bit of a stance on my viewpoint. The story I’m painting is that consciousness itself is what makes up the fabric of the universe. And if AI keeps spreading and taking over — mind by mind — eventually, the universe would just implode on itself, because there would be no collective human consciousness left to hold it together.
That idea also reflects how I feel in real life. I honestly think there was something valuable about having to go to the library, having to work harder to learn something. I feel like back then, we had more curiosity — more fire inside us — because knowledge wasn’t just handed to us instantly. And that fire is something I think we’re losing, little by little.
The old times
I still remember going to the library and asking the clerk, Do you have this book? And they’d say, No, we don’t, but we can get it from another library. The problem was, that library was 40 kilometers away — so it took me a whole week just to get that one book. It feels like I’m talking about something from a century ago, but this was the 90s! And honestly, I think newer generations are getting a bit lazy. I don’t mean that offensively — but if you look at what’s happening now, especially at universities, it’s a real issue. Students are copying things word for word from ChatGPT without even thinking for themselves. So yeah — I think we’re facing a real problem here.
Yeah, I see your point. I used to teach a lot of music, and it’s getting harder and harder to keep kids focused. As soon as something gets a little challenging, they just want to give up — because they’ve never really had to push through anything before. It’s so unusual for them to struggle with learning, and I think that’s a big part of the problem.
That’s the thing — some people say AI or robots are going to wipe out humanity someday, and yeah, maybe that’s possible. But to me, the real danger is more subtle. Especially with AI art and AI music — it doesn’t just copy, it kind of kills the spirit. It has the potential to dim that inner fire — the need to explore, to create, to evolve our minds. That’s what worries me. If technology makes it too easy, to the point where it kills passion and discourages creativity, that’s when we lose something truly essential — and that, to me, is the real danger.
“The news, it’s always bad news”
Yeah, I agree with you. But on the other side, the problem that I see it’s we have too much available. Our brain is not rewired to have too many choices, because we are not physically able the way we are wired to choose from 100 different sources of websites and whatever. So I see also why it’s difficult to keep constantly your focus on things you have simply too much.
I know, imagine growing up with it, but also I think it’s dangerous, because the news, it’s always bad news. Imagine growing up you have so much anxiety, even like I have anxiety, just because all the news is always doom and gloom.
Reflecting on these issues
I’m sure we could take this discussion in so many different directions — it’s such a fascinating topic, and I love diving into it. For me, it’s interesting from a security perspective, since that’s something I study. I find it so cool that you’re bringing these ideas into your music. You’re not just creating songs — you’re making people stop and reflect on these issues, and I think that’s powerful.
I think it’s because I spend a lot of time thinking about these things, so naturally, it seeps into the music. I miss those days when you had to read an actual book and write things down with a pen. That slower process gave you time to think — and I guess that kind of reflection has always stuck with me.
At the same time, I’ve always loved science. My dad is a scientist, so I grew up constantly hearing about discoveries and what was happening in the world of science. That curiosity has always been a big part of who I am.
And I guess tying those ideas into my art and music is my way of keeping that curiosity alive and making it feel relevant in my own life. It’s fun to talk about, but it’s also part of staying true to how I want to live — staying curious, and staying open.
For example, the song “The Unknown“ — I wrote that for myself. It was my reminder not to be afraid of the unknown, to embrace the future as it unfolds, and to keep a positive outlook. That idea — being fearless and staying positive — has become a recurring theme in our music. In a way, I write a lot of these songs as reminders to myself, to help me hold onto that mindset.
The second chapter of the graphic novel
So, besides the Prophecy album, it will also be the second chapter of the graphic novel. I wanted to ask — I know both the albums and the graphic novel progress step by step, but how was it for you to create the script for the novel for the second time? Because I imagine it’s quite different from producing an album. We’re still talking about art, of course, but the approach is a bit different, right?
It’s true, I agree. For me, it helps to think of the bigger picture. When I was working on “Prophecy“, I had different themes in mind for each song. But when I was writing the novel for “Hologram“, I was always thinking ahead — what’s going to come next? What’s the next chapter? So I’ve had this storyline in my head for a while. Now, “Prophecy“ is kind of bringing it back to Earth, and this next chapter is all about the ultimate standoff between humanity and artificial intelligence.
The second chapter of the graphic novel part 2
The novel and the album explore what it means to have individuality, and what happens if AI starts infiltrating your mind. In “Prophecy“, for example, we have the song “AI, Give It to Me”, and “Mind Assassin” — it’s like technology is always in our hands. You know, right now we have smartphones, but who knows? In 10 years, we could have chips implanted that let us learn a language in a minute, or access all the information we want instantly. But then, what are the implications of that? What happens to our identity and our humanity? In my head, I’m excited to keep exploring these questions.
The debut of Edge of Paradise with Napalm Records
Hologram marks your debut with Napalm Records after a three-album deal with Frontiers. What are your expectations for this new partnership with Napalm?
We’re really happy to be with Napalm. A lot of bands we love are signed to the label, so it’s great to be part of that family. Nick has been a friend of ours for quite a few years, and now we get to work with him, which is awesome. So far, Napalm has been incredibly supportive — it’s a different level of commitment than we’ve experienced before. It’s great to have partners who are just as invested in this as we are. This band means everything to us, and we really feel like Napalm shares our passion and drive to bring our music to the people. It’s been a positive experience so far.
The new single “Prophecy” from Edge of Paradise
Recently, it has been released as a third single, the title track. About this, What can you tell us about Prophecy as a single?
Prophecy is the title track, and it’s truly an epic song. I feel like it really captures the full dimension and dynamic of the band. It has the heaviness, the melodic chorus, and some softer, more atmospheric parts. But beyond the sound, the meaning behind it is empowering and thought-provoking. I believe it perfectly encapsulates the essence of the band.
When I first thought about naming the album Prophecy, everything just came together with this song. As for Rogue, we wrote that before we signed with Napalm, during a tough time for the band — especially on the business side of things. The idea of going “rogue” really resonated with what we were going through. Then, Death Notes marked the beginning of a new chapter, a new story for us. And Prophecy kind of ties everything together and drives the message home. So yeah, I’m excited about it.
Dealing with some issue
You mentioned having some issues on the business side of things with the band. How did that impact the album in the end? Being in a band is kind of like being in a relationship — there are ups and downs, highs and lows. So how did all of that influence the process?
After we released Hologram, we knew we needed to figure out what the next step for the band would be, and that transition was really tough. We had plenty of opportunities, but without going into too much detail, the business side of things didn’t always make it easy. Honestly, there were times when we almost quit, but I’m really glad we didn’t.
When we created Rogue, we wrote two songs, Rogue and Martyr, and we presented them to Napalm. That was the moment that brought new life to the band. It wasn’t that we didn’t want to make music on our own, but we had reached a point where, to take the band to the next level, a lot of things had to fall into place.
We went through a lot of setbacks and losses, but we have incredibly supportive band members. Dave, who founded the band with me, and I — no matter what we go through, we always find a way to keep moving forward. Sure, we have our disagreements about music or whatever else, but we never let each other quit or dwell on the negative. The love we have for making music and our drive to keep going is what pushes us forward. That passion comes through on Prophecy — it’s a testament to the band’s fire and our determination to overcome anything that comes our way.
The new North American tour with Xandria and Delain
In just a few days, you’ll be kicking off your North American tour with Xandria and Delain. So, the logical question is — when can we expect the European tour?
We’re planning to return at the end of the summer. We had an amazing time touring with Symphony X, and I always loved being on the road in Europe. So, the plan is to be back by August and September. Before that, we’re looking to do some dates in Mexico and South America in July. We’re also hoping to catch some festivals while we’re in Europe, but that’s the general plan for now.
The possible European tour of Edge of Paradise
So, will you be supporting another band, or headlining the tour yourself?
Not this time, we’ll probably be supporting another band. But hopefully, we’ll be working our way up to headlining tours soon. I want to take the opportunity to bring the story to life on stage, with all the visual elements. For me, the stage show is about more than just the music — it’s an immersive experience. One of my main goals is to create an epic show that ties everything together.
So, Margarita, I wanted to thank you for your time. I hope you enjoyed the chat.
Thank you. Always a pleasure to speak. And I hope we see you. It was fun speaking with you, and I appreciate your continued support. Thank you. It means a lot.