by Derric Miller
— Managing Editor —
If you’ve been following Images of Eden long enough, you may remember their first release, Chapter 1, which came out on a fledgling independent label Neue Regel Records. It was a curious yet needed uplifting release that featured the soaring vocals of Gordon Tittsworth, his positive and life-affirming lyrics and some complicated instrumentation.
That was then. This is now. And now is Soulrise.
Everything you remember from that debut has been multiplied ten-fold. The songwriting, the vocal prowess of Tittsworth, the pageantry of the songwriting and musicianship and yet they stayed true to who they are–in a world full of darkness, can someone PLEASE hold a damn flashlight at least? That’s what Soulrise is all about; never giving in to the darkness, no matter how enveloping its embrace.
“In this self-made prison I’m dying,” says Tittsworth as the album opens on “Harvest Day.” It’s a hyper-emotional track and for those who long for the days of Fates Warning, well, no need to keep longing. Drummers are typically known for anything except their intricacies; well throw that into the compost heap because Steve Dorssom is some sort of fluid maniac on the drums. “Harvest Day” will make the heaviest metalheads froth at the mouth and for those who are into Dream Theater and the like, well, you too.
The video for “Shield Me” encapsulates what Images of Eden is all about. They recognize the literal Hell that is trying to destroy your life (in this case, addiction) but they always, always err on the side of salvation. No matter how terrible the things you do or who you think you have become, there’s a way out into the Light. Now, this might not resonate with those who don’t believe in a Higher Power, but Images of Eden is rarely that blatant. It’s about overcoming negativity to find the positivity inside yourself. If you can’t agree with that message, go lick a rat trap.
For the record, on their prior release, Rebuilding the Ruins, the band acknowledged the issue of abortion on the song, “Crosses in the Sand.” The message of that track, in a non-political nutshell, is, “If God truly has a plan for us all, who are we to judge.” So don’t think the band is preaching in any way/shape/form. Even in the bleakest of moments, Images of Eden is speaking of some kind of divine hand guiding your way, regardless of your beliefs. It’s called “hope,” a recurring theme in their music.
The first slower composition on the release is, “Moonrise,” which begins acoustically, with some deft instrumentation and highlights L. Harris’ keyboards. This is one of those moments when you truly hear Tittsworth’s overall vocal ability. While he can actually sing harsh, nearly Death/Thrash vocals in other bands (i.e. Dread the Forsaken) he shines brightest when it’s pure emotional honesty.
“Godless” is one of the heaviest songs, and the message slaps you in the teeth with the opening line, “Why do so many feel no faith?” Guitarist Carlos Urquidi-Perez is a monster, whether riffing or playing impossible leads, and he proves all of that true on “Godless.” There’s some layered two-part harmonies to go along with the lead vocals and Tittsworth shows off his angry side as well. May be the best song on the release.
“All is Now Forgiven” is another acoustic-led track, but turns Metal in a hurry, and then slides into keyboards. When you hear how Tittsworth sings, you can also feel he is actually calling out to Someone, whomever that may be. He is asking a question to … not to paint them into a corner, but he is speaking for Everyman asking the Universe “what do I do?” It’s pretty existential if you are into that sort of thing. If not, just enjoy the melodies, tempo changes and songwriting.
The title track “Soulrise” closes the album, and it’s probably one of the reasons they are sometimes compared to Queensryche. But Images of Eden is a far different animal, so don’t take that comparison too far. The difference between Images of Eden and 99 percent of bands out there is that those bands write bleak music defining how life is today; Images of Eden always writes music showing a way out, and how much better life could be for every soul on earth if we just focused on positivity and not all of the negativity surrounding and smothering us.
They just don’t sound like any other band making music today.
All the accolades and awards (like for the “Shield Me” video) Images of Eden have earned so far are well deserved. EARNED is the word. These are not fly-by-night musicians who just put together a project to see if it sticks to the wall. They have a message they will never stray from, they are true to themselves, and wherever that message takes them, they are grateful for it. Doesn’t that sound Neue? OK, new, but they had to start somewhere, and thank whomever you need to that their journey led them to Soulrise.
Genre: Power/Progressive Metal
Band:
Gordon Tittsworth: Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Steve Dorssom: Drums & Percussion
Carlos Urquidi-Perez: Lead Guitar
L. Dean Harris: Piano & Keyboards
Eric Mulvaine: Bass Guitar
Tracklisting:
1. Harvest Day
2. Let Me Die Young
3. Shield Me
4. Only Human
5. Moonrise
6. Godless
7. Once We Believed
8. Twice Upon A Time
9. All Is Now Forgiven
10. Waiting For The Sky To Fall
11. And Then There Was One
12. Soulrise
Label: Pavement Entertainment
Online:
www.imagesofeden.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8.8 / 10)
