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Eden's Curse: Cardinal

Melodic Heavy Metal

5.0/5.0

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AFM Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 05.10.2016

To think I've been reviewing music as long a Eden's Curse has been making music. I reviewed every album from this multinational band from their self-titled debut in 2007 to their latest and fifth album, Cardinal. This will be the first studio album for new drummer John Clelland (Code Of Silence), who appeared on 2015's live work, Live With The Curse, and new keyboard player Christian Pulkkinen (Simulacrum, Adamantra).

Eden's Curse

It's not difficult to review another Eden's Curse album. Mostly, it's a pleasure. The band is consistent and constant in their output. Once more they bring their signature melodic heavy metal bathed in harmony, melody, and rock groove. The arrangements are bold and often bombastic with Thorsten Koehne's guitar riffs embellished by Christian Pulkkinen layered synths. Often the two play off each other as within Sell Your Sell or Find My Way, a massive song with every Curse element excepting the kitchen sink. Sometimes the Koehne and Pulkkinen tone and timbre are so similar the two form a near symbiotic musical bond. Additionally, the vocal arrangements are lush and expansive, offering often a choral feel. Nikola Mijic soars, but sometimes feels overwhelmed in the mix, making you wish you had the CD booklet and lyrics.

The songs, of course, vary through the album. There's something more akin to power level with Utopian Dreams, as it's first led by keyboards before entering into a gallop. The aforementioned Sell Your Soul spins with more of an accessible AOR rock groove, with catchy lyrical and melodic hooks. Kingdom Of Solitude begins with some tricky, near fusion-like, guitar play from Koehne before developing into a groove monster with more of that jazzy guitar after the midpoint. Leaves' Eyes vocalist Liv Kristine joins Mijic in duet on Unconditional, a true melodic metal anthem with the vocal arrangements leading all things.

Without doubt, after 10 years, Eden's Curse is in fine form: always creative, consistent, and engaging while delivering premium melodic heavy metal. Get it. You'll want to give the album a generous amount of spins. Easily recommended.

Eden's Curse - The Great Pretender

Eden's Curse - Sell Your Soul

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Without doubt, after 10 years, Eden's Curse is in fine form: always creative, consistent, and engaging while delivering premium melodic heavy metal. Get it. You'll want to give Cardinal a generous amount of spins. Easily recommended.

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