'Edenbridge' is still a formation that I particularly appreciate; created 25 years ago now by the multi-instrumentalist 'Lanvall' and her companion on stage and in life, 'Sabine Edelsbacher', and with already 10 albums (see the discography on their site here), they have always been for me the very definition of symphonic metal: a perfect fusion between metal and classical orchestral music. The rest of the line-up consists now and for a few years already, of guitarist 'Dominik Sebastian', bassist 'Stefan Gimpl' and drummer 'Johannes Jungreithmeier'. After the release of a compilation of the last five albums that I reviewed here and in which I was happy to add an additional playlist of other compositions here, 2022 sees the release of a new album, 'Shangri-La', which is inspired by the novel 'Lost Horizon' by 'James Hilton' released in 1933, the place 'Shangri-La' being described as a mystical place where people live in peace and harmony.
When I read certain chronicles here and there which deplore that 'Edenbridge' always makes 'Edenbridge' style, I do not think that many people reproached 'Mozart' for always making 'Mozart' style (and I don't say that because the band is Austrian!!). Admittedly, when we put between the ears these long developments and its addictive melodies which enamel the discography of the group, we are always waiting for even more, a kind of infinite quest towards an even stronger musical grail. But, for fans of the group, put aside all this intense musical past and imagine that this latest offering from the Austrians is their first studio recording by discovering each composition, listen after listen, because an 'Edenbridge' album requires linger there to draw all the substance of it.
'At First Line' takes us on a first long development of 8 minutes with all the ingredients of a symphonic metal admirably mixing saturated guitar riffs with sumptuous orchestral and vocal arrangements, the central part with these grandiose choirs being fabulous, just like this quiet section in the second part of the title, the finale bringing this powerful and imposing side with a gripping melody highlighted by the expressive singing of 'Sabine Edelsbacher': we are already be in heaven! Follows 'The Call of Eden' (see the video above) which highlights the super melodic side in a much more direct title with this refrain which comes to be grafted automatically in your head, then, 'Hall of Shame' is still another facet that combines the melodic side with a more elaborate and energetic construction with a guitar solo worthy of the name in the second part. Very well placed, after all the vigour of 'Hall OF Shame', 'Savage Land' this time takes us on a melancholy ballad with an interpretation of Sabine who give goosebumps and this flute which transports us for a few seconds to a distant country, then, 'Somewhere Else but Here' is another hit that we want to listen to on repeat with a new addictive melody. And what about 'Freedom Is A Roof Made Of Stars' which develops in less than 6 minutes a succession of different atmospheres showing all the progressive symphonic side with changes of intensities and tempo throughout the title. Follows 'Arcadia, (The Great Escape)' which is the second ballad of the album and which shows all the compositional talent of 'Lanvall' for melodies filled with a serenity which are well in phase with the delivered messages of wisdom and spirituality (the very object of the Shangri-La place), then 'The Road to Shangri-La' (see the video here) shows us the way of this mystical place in an exotic then lively atmosphere with a very beautiful instrumental part in the second part of the title.
And to end this magnificent album, we come to the centrepiece that all 'Edenbridge' fans have been waiting for, and which is the second part of 'The Bonding', whose first release in 2013 is one of my must-have progressive compositions and that I always enjoy listening to it again. And for this new epic composition, 'Lanvall' recalled 'Erik Gunnar Mårtensson' who this time took a good part in this magnificent title which develops a succession of diversified soundscapes which take us from grandiose symphonic orchestral sections to parts much quieter which suddenly take energy by adding saturated guitar riffs, the alternation of rhythms being always well done. And as we are now used to, the end of these titles makes us go up on a small cloud to deliver us an addictive melody which remains engraved in our memory. In this case, in this 'The Bonding (Part 2)', we could say that the fourth part ('Round and Round') which already gives goosebumps, already acts as a pre-final thanks to the vocal duet between Erik and Sabine (after the first part wonderfully sung by Erik, Sabine takes over and moves us to tears), then, 'Lanvall' adds a simple but so moving 'Floydian' guitar solo before the finale which takes up the starting theme and which never ceases to dazzle us with these imposing orchestral and vocal arrangements ending with a final masterful chromatic rise.
In summary, as you will have understood, this latest album from Edenbridge' is still a total success which improves from listening to listening, which, for my part, is a sign of quality, and again shows all the talent of this formation which does not have, to my taste, all the recognition it deserves in the world of symphonic metal... | |
