Album review: EDENBRIDGE – The Bonding

SPV

There are a lot of female fronted symphonic and progressive metal bands out there now, possibly too many and it takes something a bit special to make the listener sit up and take notice. Luckily Edenbridge are one such band and they first came to my attention from an online recommendation from Steve Williams of Power Quest.

The key factor to any good symphonic metal band for me is the vocalist, as the pomp and strings are rarely second rate on albums, and Edenbridge have a real asset in the soaring vocals of Sabine Edelsbacher. ‘Mystic River’ highlights this amply and the choral arrangement and symphonic arrangements are stunning. Looking closer at the credits a certain Robby Valentine is credited on backing vocals and choirs, that’d explain the Queen-like harmony vocals on ‘Star-Crossed Dreamer’ then!

Lanvall is the other key driving force in the band aside from Sabine and his musical ideas are simply stunning at times, be it the ebb and flow of the musical mood on ‘Into A Sea Of Souls’ or ‘Far Out Of Reach’ that could teach Nightwish a trick or two. It is a like the key song in a film soundtrack, glorious stuff.

‘Shadows Of My Memory’ is my personal stand out, with its orchestral pomp, massive metal guitar riffs and some growling vocals (I must admit when used well and sparingly a few cookie monster vocals can work wonders in a song). Uplifting melody and chorus, mass of keys, timely guitar solo…it’s all as it should be in this song.

The epic fifteen minute ‘The Bonding’ has it all plus W.E.T.’s Erik Martensson duets on this one. The fifteen minutes flies by and there are so many musical time changes from gentle acoustic passages switching to heavy guitar and soaring strings. Using a full orchestra adds to the album’s sound greatly as the studio produced string/orchestral effects never sound as musically rich or powerful.

Edenbridge have been on the edge of greatness previously and this is their best album to date without a doubt.

****1/2

Jason Ritchie


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 March 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 5 March 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 18 March 2024

GYPSY’S KISS We’ve Come To Play
FM Out Of The Blue (Frontiers)
SHOTGUN MISTRESS Shot Down (indie)
ATTIC THEORY Violent Delight (indie)
FLOYA Yume (FiXT)
SAHAJI Tell Me All Your Feelings (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 18 March 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 LEAVES’ EYES Myths Of Fate (AFM Records)
14:00-16:00 HOLLY LERSKI Sweet Decline (indie)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply