Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Edenbridge - The Chronicles of Eden (2007)
Not gonna lie, this review is one of the hardest ones I've ever done. I had to try to find the complete compilation so I could listen to all it in one go a few times, and Spotify does not have all the songs in the compilation. And whenever I do these compilation reviews, I had to really think about the songs from each of 5 albums rather than just one. This probably would've been easier if I was still into Edenbridge and other symphonic/power metal bands like I was nearly a decade before this review. But it's all worth it!
The Chronicles of Eden is one of the most essential compilation albums for a band. The first disc has mostly bonus tracks for their first 5 albums, and the second disc has two full songs per album; one greatest hit and one 8+ minute epic, mostly longer than each track from the first disc either way.
Starting off the first disc with bonus tracks from The Grand Design (the album with the most bonus tracks by far), "Thin Red Line" has some of the progressive melody of Seventh Wonder. "The Silent Wake" is more mid-tempo, but it's like a blend of Firewind and Visions of Atlantis. "Images in the Sand" is a soft piano/strings instrumental. Then comes their awesome cover of Sheena Easton's "For Your Eyes Only", the theme song for that James Bond film, keeping the relaxed ballad vibe without ever sounding lame. Their name is Bridge... EDENbridge. Interestingly, "Evermore" appears in this disc even though it's already in the original album. It's still a beautiful shining single! "Empire of the Sun" is another instrumental track, this one more guitar-focused and a little long for an instrumental, at over 5 minutes in length.
Before we get to the bonus tracks from Shine, there's a radio edit for its 9-minute opening title epic, reduced to around half its length. It's quite risky reducing a masterpiece epic that's perfect in its original form into a short single, but uitimately it's still the catchy hymn it is. "On Sacred Ground" is softer with more usage of symphonics and flutes that can practically rival Epica's ballads. It's also a nice break from power metal bands like Powerwolf whose ballads and heavier songs rely on organ. Then we have another bonus track that was once a rarity, another uplifting guitar-focused instrumental, "Anthem". Now we heading to the Aphelion bonus tracks, starting with "On the Verge of Infinity" which again has similar vibes to fellow Austrian symphonic power metallers Visions of Atlantis. Same thing with "The Whispering Gallery". Concluding with the Arcana bonus tracks, "The Whisper of the Ages" has gotten me hooked with the exotic sitar and a great chorus. "Velvet Eyes of Dawn" is one more rarity worth discovering.
Now it's time for the second disc, and if you're bummed out that their debut Sunrise in Eden doesn't have any bonus tracks, the two tracks that start the album and this disc shall make up for that, starting with its title epic. The oriental melodies are so majestic in this mid-tempo track, along with the harmonic soloing and one of the most glorious choruses by the band EVER. The original album didn't start with that epic, instead starting with the track before it, "Cheyenne Spirit". It's filled with neoclassical power metal greatness. It stands out with the vocals and the soloing from both the guitars and bass. As much as the track sounds so uplifting and wonderous, the lyrical theme is more serious, concerning the historical tragedies of early American civilization. As awesome as those two previous tracks are, they're nothing compared to the title track of Arcana, which I sh*t you not, is one of the most melodic epics I've heard in my over a decade of listening to metal. Wonderful guitar flow and more of the vocal power of Sabine Edelsbacher. Her singing can range from operatic to full-on siren. And we can't forget the guitarwork by Lanvall and Andreas Eibler often going from melodic to complex. Nothing else I can about that glorious epic can do it justice. The shorter but more progressive "The Palace" has many different stunning ideas. Catchy vocals and guitar/keys interplay never lose steam. Absolutely promising! Aphelion started with "The Undiscovered Land" which is a popular live staple worth mentioning. But it can't beat the album's closing track, "Red Ball in Blue Sky", despite its odd title. Sabine duets with Royal Hunt vocalist D.C. Cooper, making another beautiful epic.
Eastern melodies once again cover "Wild Chase" from the Shine album, and it has great power for a midpaced song. It's nice that they consider the haunting interlude "The Canterville Prophecy" as part of an epic, though it would make sense if they connect together. Still, "The Canterville Ghost" has interesting variation and climatic soloing. Then we get to the longest epic of this compilation, the title track of The Grand Design, soaring through the majestic cosmos for over 10 minutes, and summarizing all the original album has. But it's not the total end of the compilation, until after that album's opening track "Terra Nova", one more beautiful song of hopes and dreams.
If you prefer just a regular album, Shine and The Grand Design are both excellent albums. If the bonus tracks in The Grand Design don't convince you to give that album a try, I don't know what would. And even Aphelion is good despite being the least strong one of Edenbridge's early offerings. Either way, these chronicles are totally essential!
Favorites (one per album per disc, except for Shine/The Grand Design bonus tracks): "The Silent Wake", "For Your Eyes Only", "Evermore", "Shine (radio edit)", "On Sacred Ground", "On the Verge of Infinity", "The Whisper of the Ages", "Sunrise in Eden", "Arcana", "Red Ball in Blue Sky", "Wild Chase", "The Grand Design"