Images of Eden Rebuilding the Ruins
by Derric Miller
Staff Writer
One of the most thought-provoking groups making music today is Progressive Metal band Images of Eden, who has just released their third studio effort, Rebuilding the Ruins. Led by singer/musician/songwriter Gordon Tittsworth (Dread the Forsaken, All Too Human), the prior two releases were extremely existential in their capacity to ask the questions “why are we here, and what are we here for?” Rebuilding the Ruins takes it a step further, and brings cosmic spirituality to the forefront as the protagonist of the story rebuilds his life and attempts to make sense of his very existence … and the eternal.
“Crosses in the Sand” begins the journey with a soft keyboard intro, ambient background noises with the cry of gulls, and then the music bludgeons you with a heavy, downtuned and aggressive gallop before leading into a soaring guitar passage. The lyrics are somewhat obscure, with lines like “All for one, for nothing, you are not to blame. It never saw the world… there was never life to hate,” or the frantic ending of the song where Tittsworth sings, “If God’s so forgiving, then he would understand, sometimes a ‘choice’ is better to be made.” You will have to dig deep into your mental repertoire to bring the meaning to light here, but it could be a dissection of the discussion “when does life truly begin,” and if you bring someone into this world who is the result of traumatic violence or something darker … well … there may be nothing worse than entering this physical existence under those parameters. In essence, the band used the word “choice” for a reason.
The music seethes at the start of “Human Angels,” one of those complex compositions Images of Eden excels at. Instead, the song becomes a bit of a mid-tempo rocker with expert drum fills and Tittsworth’s honest and emotional delivery. In the past, Tittsworth sometimes sounded close to Bruce Dickinson at times, and he still wields a powerful, multi-faceted delivery, but has come into his own as a singer and sounds like no one else today. With all of the projects Tittsworth is involved with, and all of the experience under his belt, he is hitting his stride as a singer and his expertise will move you.
The title track, “Rebuilding the Ruins,” is perhaps the best song on the release. Its angry beginning, sounding a bit like the unheralded but amazing band Digital Ruin, pulls you in to the theme of the track. A band needs to take chances to succeed, and writing lyrics seemingly spoken by Jesus Chris, like “Tell me who will wear my crown of thorns today … I’m not sorry for dying,” is certainly risky. In fact, the end of the song, as Tittsworth sings “What once were ruins are again towers standing tall, rebirth for the ones who deserve,” it certainly seems like a call for The Rapture, and therefore, to “leave behind” those who don’t deserve rebirth.
One of the most uplifting songs is “On Elevated Ground,” a composition that is somewhat contrary to the religious themes before it. As stated earlier, where there was a call for The Rapture, in this track, it seems that everyone is invited to the Eternal Party, especially with the line “Where love will be all and love will end all.” Themes aside, the vocal melodies do their part of being “otherworldly,” with strong backing vocals and Tittsworth’s omnipresent masterful singing. As the song has two minutes left, you will almost get a ‘70s hippy vibe from the vocals and music. Like most Progressive Metal bands, Images of Eden plays everything from Thrash to Pop Rock — sometimes in the same track — and excels at it all. After this soft passage, guitarist Dennis Mullin tears into an intricate guitar solo that completely rages to the track’s end.
You need to be careful when listening to “Images of Eden (Sunlight of the Spirit Part IV),” because if you take what they write in the literal, you will think they are a Christian Metal band. In brief, Images of Eden is NOT a Christian Metal band. Musically, the composition breathes so artfully, there is so much to digest as the song flows through you, that it is, in a word … enchanting. One of the strongest lyrics on the entire album pop up here with the phrase, “Today God is playing God.” The song gains intensity as the protagonist prepares to leave corporeal life behind and entire into the Kingdom of Heaven, as Tittsworth and a mammoth chorus sing together, “Kingdom of Forever, I’m coming home.”
It’s not only the music and lyrics that make Rebuilding the Ruins so engaging, but also the mixing efforts of drummer Chris Lucci and the mastering of Eric Zimmerman (Fates Warning, Limp Bizkit, Deftones, Buckcherry, Suicidal Tendencies, etc.), all culminating in the album’s spectacular sonic landscape.
Rebuilding the Ruins goes far into announcing Images of Eden as one of those bands to be reckoned with in the Progressive Metal genre. From deft songwriting to stellar musicianship to top notch production, Rebuilding the Ruins is a force. That being said, it’s a walk on the tightrope to produce positive metal that does not alienate those listeners who are agnostic, atheist, or generally apathetic towards Christianity and religion. In the end, Images of Eden does just that, maneuvering the fine line between telling a story and preaching that story to you. The imagery, the passion, the understated and overstated themes … it all comes together to make Rebulding the Ruins one of the most unique releases you will be fortunate enough to hear all year long …
Band:
Gordon Tittsworth- All Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Bass Guitar & Keyboards
Dennis Mullin- Lead Guitar
Chris Lucci – Drums
Dean Harris – Piano & Keyboards
Track listing:
1) Crosses In The Sand
2) Human Angels
3) Sorrow’s End
4) Dreams Unbroken
5) Tribal Scars
6) Rebuilding The Ruins
7) My Stigmata
8 Native To His Land
9) Children of Autumn
10) On Elevated Ground
11) Images of Eden (Sunlight of the Spirit- Part IV)
Label: Nightmare Records
Genre: Progressive Metal
Online: www.imagesofeden.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.3/10