Edenbridge Solitaire

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by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer

Led by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lanvall and featuring the vocal talents of the lovely Sabine Edelsbacher, Austria’s Edenbridge is one of the most talented and accomplished bands in the crowded female-fronted metal scene. Edenbridge distinguished themselves from the pack by opting for a bombastic, decidedly un-gothic sound and a non-operatic vocal approach, and cemented their reputation by releasing a series of very high quality albums. Solitaire is the symphonic metal band’s seventh studio album.

Everything about this album screams high class and quality. Lanvall is an accomplished musician, and he really shines here, particularly on keyboards. His symphonic arrangements and general songwriting skills are first rate. The production of the album is also impeccable. Lanvall took the lead, with assistance from Dennis Ward (of Pink Cream 69), who also provides backing vocals, and Karl Groom (of Threshold), who assisted with mixing the album. And of course there’s Sabine Edelsbacher’s vocal performance. She is one of the best, if not the best, female vocalists in metal, and she sounds incredible on Solitaire, showing great range, depth and emotion on every song. And she’s gorgeous. This, of course, has nothing whatsoever to do with the album, but it had to be said.

Back to Solitaire; this is your typical Edenbridge album. It’s a soaring, majestic, melodic affair that’s still very much a real metal album. That’s worth mentioning when you consider how rarely albums by bands like Delain, Leaves Eyes and the like sound like metal albums at all. There are some great heavy rhythms here, which provide a metallic punch to Sabine’s angelic vocals and Lanvall’s symphonic arrangements. The album’s highlights are the title track, “Come Undone” (which would make a great single), and the epic “Brothers Diamir,” though aside from the instrumental intro and outro, all of the songs on Solitaire are fairly strong,

So what’s the problem? Well, the problem is that we’ve already heard this album a half dozen times. There really isn’t anything on Solitaire that you wouldn’t have found a decade ago on Sunrise in Eden. For some fans, this will no doubt be a good thing. If you love Edenbridge’s formula and aren’t looking for any variation, then you will probably love Solitaire. If, however, you expect to see bands grow and challenge themselves and their listeners, you won’t find much of that here.

Genre: Symphonic Metal

Band:
Sabine Edelsbacher (v)
Max Pointner (d)
Lanvall (k) (g) (b)
Dominik Sebastian (g)

Track Listing:
1. Entrée Unique
2. Solitaire
3. Higher
4. Skyline’s End
5. Bon Voyage Vagabond
6. Come Undone
7. Out of this World
8. Further Afield
9. A Virtual Dream
10. Brothers Diamir
11. Exit Unique

Label: Napalm

Website: www.edenbridge.org

Hardrock Haven rating: 7/10