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"Arcana" Edenbridge |
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Like most Progressive/Power Metallists ever to put pen to paper, music to tape, Edenbridge is not without their talents and inspiration. "Arcana" is a sweeping example of such. Led by soaring, swooning and ultimately soulful female vocals of Sabine Edelsbacher, the music proves as timeless and touching as the subject matter often sought as the subject of focus. Here, a mystical, magical journey to the stars with no apparent thematic significance other than the transcendence through those storied ancient myths of man's quest for deliverance. Originally based as a studio project some four years prior, through a number of lineup additions and instrumental arrangements, Edenbridge, if only based on their latest, appear poised to join the ranks of some of the genres biggest performers-Rhapsody, Stratovarius, Royal Hunt, to name a few. "Arcana" features two six minute bonus track additions at mid-point, assumed North American version incentives-"Velvet Eyes Of Dawn," and "The Whisper Of The Ages," both far from your average "tack-ons," with the former featuring an impressive ballad-like break with cascading verses and Styx-like piano arrangements, the latter a bit of middle eastern flair at the onset, gaining intensity, later returning to its past and following through as one of the colorful moments found here. What I've learned to look for when listening to a Prog/Metal album is how well a song would stand on its own without reliance on the rest of its eleven or twelve siblings-discounting obvious conceptual creations of course. Edenbridge is good at what they do, but so are so many of the rest-you have to be to pull it off. "Arcane's" got plenty of memorable moments that even seem to gain momentum toward the end ("Into The Light," "Suspiria," the epic "Arcana,"), doesn't overstay its welcome and save for a few repetitive rest stops, is altogether worthy of acclamation. Released by Sensory
Records http://www.lasercd.com/merchant/lasercd/sensory.asp Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] P.O. Box 20252
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