Eden's Fall - Harmony Of Lies (7/10) - USA - 2006
Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Nothingheart Records
Playing time: 43:19
Band homepage: Eden's Fall
Tracklist:
1. Blur The Lines >mp3
2. Planet Hate
3. Lost Again >mp3
4. Chemical Dreams
5. Bleed >mp3
6. Dead Thought Matrix
7. Liquid Christ
8. We Betray
9. Nothingheart
Eden's Fall - Harmony Of Lies
Heres the debut long-player from Chicagos EDENS FALL. Formed in 2000, the bands released a demo the next year which was good enough to get them signed to Nothingheart Records and now, five years later, theyre ready for the Metal media to pass judgment on their first offering.
Ive found that so far a lot of the judgment consists of people pointing at them and crying NEVERMORE clone/rip-off/influenced, depending on the reviewers overall opinion of the band. Ill agree that NEVERMOREs unique blend of dark Power, Thrash and anything else they need is certainly the primary influence/sound alike, but theres more to EDENS FALL than that. They turn up the Thrash aspect in a very PANTERA manner, though that similarity is in part due to vocalist John Barrs resemblance to Phil Anselmo when hes singing clean. There are other influences; after a thrash introduction, Blur The Lines settles into a groove forged from the blood of MANOWARs enemies.
This album has gotten a bit better each time I listen to it. At first Barrs Im always mad and sneering vocals really grated my nerves and I still think theyre the weak part of the album, but theyve become more tolerable. Tony Gronowski and Rob Aquino turn in some really good work on guitars, again in the NEVERMORE vein but with more solos. The opening solo on Blur The Lines is especially memorable, partially because its the first thing on the album we hear, partially because its a hook-laden, considerably awesome run. Theres also a repeated harmony bridge in Bleed thats worth your time.
Oh yeah, I should also point out that the production is excellent and courtesy of Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, about a billion other bands including two he came up with this morning).
EDENS FALL havent produced a perfect release or even one that will make many waves in the Metal community. Given time, they have the opportunity to grow into something special. For now Im content to sit back and enjoy this album for what it is; different enough to be recognizable and good enough for a few spins. (Online April 20, 2006)
Keith Stevens
Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Nothingheart Records
Playing time: 43:19
Band homepage: Eden's Fall
Tracklist:
1. Blur The Lines >mp3
2. Planet Hate
3. Lost Again >mp3
4. Chemical Dreams
5. Bleed >mp3
6. Dead Thought Matrix
7. Liquid Christ
8. We Betray
9. Nothingheart
Eden's Fall - Harmony Of Lies
Heres the debut long-player from Chicagos EDENS FALL. Formed in 2000, the bands released a demo the next year which was good enough to get them signed to Nothingheart Records and now, five years later, theyre ready for the Metal media to pass judgment on their first offering.
Ive found that so far a lot of the judgment consists of people pointing at them and crying NEVERMORE clone/rip-off/influenced, depending on the reviewers overall opinion of the band. Ill agree that NEVERMOREs unique blend of dark Power, Thrash and anything else they need is certainly the primary influence/sound alike, but theres more to EDENS FALL than that. They turn up the Thrash aspect in a very PANTERA manner, though that similarity is in part due to vocalist John Barrs resemblance to Phil Anselmo when hes singing clean. There are other influences; after a thrash introduction, Blur The Lines settles into a groove forged from the blood of MANOWARs enemies.
This album has gotten a bit better each time I listen to it. At first Barrs Im always mad and sneering vocals really grated my nerves and I still think theyre the weak part of the album, but theyve become more tolerable. Tony Gronowski and Rob Aquino turn in some really good work on guitars, again in the NEVERMORE vein but with more solos. The opening solo on Blur The Lines is especially memorable, partially because its the first thing on the album we hear, partially because its a hook-laden, considerably awesome run. Theres also a repeated harmony bridge in Bleed thats worth your time.
Oh yeah, I should also point out that the production is excellent and courtesy of Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, about a billion other bands including two he came up with this morning).
EDENS FALL havent produced a perfect release or even one that will make many waves in the Metal community. Given time, they have the opportunity to grow into something special. For now Im content to sit back and enjoy this album for what it is; different enough to be recognizable and good enough for a few spins. (Online April 20, 2006)
Keith Stevens
