Lanvall,
Sabine Edelsbacher and Kurt Bednarsky formed the
first line-up in the Austrian metal band
Edenbridge in 1998. In 2000 came the release of
their debut album 'Sunrise in Eden'. 'The Bonding'
is the eight studio production from the Austrian
symphonic / progressive metal band. Sabine's
vocals is the first thing that impress me in my
first spin of 'The Bonding'. Extraordinary clear
and pompous vocal performance throughout the
entire album. She handles both the gentle and soft
power ballads and the heavier and stiffer metal
tracks.
I find some parables with the Finnish giants in
this female-fronted power metal genre:
Nightwish; one strong member, who writes
everything and directs the musical direction with
a iron fist. The mighty and bombastic sound is
impressive, but I miss a little of the peculiar
and unique in the beginning that would make me
react with a: 'Ahhhh typically Edenbridge!'
The opening track 'Mystic River' is a genre
typical power track that I find interesting. A
really nice ballad is 'Star-Crossed Dreamer', which
has a different touch. The bold and progressive
flamethrower track 'The Invisible Force' is
perhaps the song that got stuck in my mind the fastest
of the nine tracks. Sabine sings so easy and
controlled through the song and it sounds
absolutely perfect and balanced along with the
heavy guitar riffs and hard drumbeats. Impressive
and a very strong song.
The melancholy and cautious track 'Into a Sea of
Souls' is the special and unique song that I was looking
when I listened to this album. Not my favorite song, but a
unique and lovely song that I like more and more. It grows with each spin. 'Far
out of Reach' is also a slower song with a fantasy
theme. A really heavy prog metal song with some
medieval music mix. Now I think to myself: Ahhhh
typical 'Edenbridge'! It makes my grade rise
up a bit.
In the next track 'Shadows of My Memory' they are
back in the classic power metal folder with a
touch of grunt song initially. Little surprising
to me actually. They manage to weave together very
progressive progressions in the pompous power
metal. Cool song that has razor sharp guitars by
the way. Suddenly came a piano and only Sabine's
clear voice in the introduction of the incredibly
beautiful song 'Death is Not the End'. It turns
into a really big power ballad with all the heavy
instruments in the end of the tune.
The title track ends this journey and it is a mastodon track that lasts
more than 15 minutes. 'The
Bonding' is in Avantasia world class. Very high
standards in both the technically advanced
instrumental parts and also the composition. With
cool background singing and a guest vocalist in
Erik Martensson (WET & Eclipse) makes me
extremely happy. This song alone is worth a
purchase of 'The Bonding'. One of the strongest
power metal tunes I've heard in a long while. ABBA
goes prog metal! I have a new favourite female
metal voice in Sabine Edelsbacher. Thanks for the trip...
All music, lyrics, vocal melodies, production and
orchestral arrangements are done by Lanvall.
Edenbridge:
Sabine Edensbacher - Lead Vocals
Lanvall - Lead & rythm guitars, bass, piano,
keys, kacapi
Max Pointner - Drums
Dominik Sebastian - Lead & rythm guitars
Wolfgang Rothbauer - Bass
Guest
Musicans:
Erik Mårtensson - Vocals on 'The Bonding'
Robby Valentine - Back vocals & choirs
