From where I’m standing, “Shangri-La” is a comeback to Edenbridge’s the original more simple and less complex sonancy. “Shangri-La” avoids the all orchestrations and the fancy production. It’s as simple as Edenbridge can get. It means down to earth guitar riffings, pounding drumming and powerful bass lines. Keyboards only when extremely needed and in the background as in “Freedom” with its potent guitar riffing with keyboards that stress the guitars in the strongest moments. There is also some orchestration here but it’s only to stress the moment as a bridge to the beautiful guitar solo. From “Shangri-La” it’s possible to get some of Edenbridge influences by the strong guitar downpicking in many guitar riffs. It’s obvious that the downpickings come from a band that I refuse to say the name. So, I won’t say the band is Metallica for obvious reasons. As it would be expected, the fan can hear echoes from the previous albums in tracks as “Arcadia (The Great Escape)” with all the complex – not too much – production and arranges. Besides all that the band follows its taste from pompous and grand track tittles as “Freedom Is a Roof Made of Stars” or even “Somewhere Else But Here” to mention the most.
The most interesting that “Shangri-La” made me remind is the contrast between vocalist Sabine Edelsbacher’s voice and the harsh guitars. I guess Edenbridge were the first Symphonic band I heard and that’s the reason why I can’t forget them. This contrast is the thing that made me have interest for Symphonic Metal. Well, that time I didn’t know it was named that way.
Edenbridge “Shangri-La” will be released on August 26th via AFM Records.
Track Listing:
- At First Light
- The Call of Eden
- Hall of Shame
- Savage Land
- Somewhere Else But Here
- Freedom Is a Roof Made of Stars
- Arcadia (The Great Escape)
- The Road to Shangri-La
- The Bonding (Pt. 2)
Watch “The Road to Shangri-La” official music video here:
