Edgeland - Keepers of the Light Review

This year has been so, but so great to Old School Heavy Metal bands. By the number of great bands we have received it’s possible to say that the flame is high and still burning very hot. I dare to say that each band gave its own contribution to make it alive and, better yet, its contribution to its progress. Believe me, each contribution given, even the tiniest, keeps the flame high and alive. The thing is that excitement is still in the air making Old School Heavy Metal more alive than ever.

Here we’ve got Edgeland with “Keepers of the Light,” an album that brought me the same emotions I had when I heard Iron Maiden’s “Live After Death” for the first time. As Iron Maiden, Edgeland really know how to bring them naturally even though both bands don’t have a strong melodic intent. Emotions and melody are embedded in the music of both bands. I say this, but the band’s music is totally different from Maiden’s. I’m really aware of that. Except the aforementioned there is no link between the bands. Edgeland got much more with Saxon and Judas Priest. Well, on second thought, “Chaos Is Calling” has some Iron Maiden in it with its fast played guitar riffs. I just don’t remember Maiden’s song, but the twin guitars in the end tell no lies. Oh, my memory. It’s on the tip of my tongue.

The album commences with full throttle with album warmer “The Light Belongs to Me” with its typical NWOBHM cadence and power plus the embedded emotions and melody. The song cries out that the excitement is the air as Iron Maiden used to do in the good old times. The time when no band could really face Iron Maiden in any duel of the bands. But I guess it’s “Hillside of the North” that summarizes Edgeland’s identity. The song has all the embedded and hidden emotional and melodic intent I aforementioned. The only track which falls behind is “The Curse of s Fallen Seabird…” to the extent to not sound as a song from the album.

If you’re in the mood for some great Old School Heavy Metal album “Keepers of the Light” is for you. The album isn’t just one more. It’s more than that.

Edgeland “Keepers of the Light” was independently released in September.

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