Many lovers of Metal music tend to venture into the realm of Prog Rock from time to time. Take into consideration the popularity of bands like Spock’s Beard, Enchant and The Flower Kings among certain Metal fans (usually those into the more Progressive side of Metal) and this is easy to see. Lucky for these fans, they now have a new band to satisfy their Prog Rock cravings…New York’s Edensong. Spearheaded by one James Byron Schoen, Edensong present a blend of Prog Rock styles from across the decades. One can hear influence from bands like Jethro Tull, Kansas, Peter Gabriel-era Genesis in the instrumentation, and even hints of Porcupine Tree in some of the more moody, ambient passages.

Lots of layers permeate and color the music including flutes, violins and organ sounds as well as other keyboard interplay among the more standard guitar/bass/drums and small splashes of Hard Rock. No one instrument tends to outshine the other. Every piece is utilized to create a sweeping sonic tapestry. The music is not overtly technical; that is to say there are not a lot of crazy time signatures or over the top shredding. Rather each song is more of a journey of ebbs and flows, hills and valleys, with the storyline (of course there’s a concept) tying them all together. The vocals are clean and melodic and, like the other instruments, are utilized as but one color of the overall palette. Nice harmonies and counter melodies add a nice atmosphere amidst the changing parts and moods. Influences aside, the band is not typical amongst today’s Prog Rock scene…familiar as some of this may be it definitely has its own modern signature.

If you’re not already a fan of Prog Rock, you probably haven’t made it this far into the review. But, if you have, I urge you to go to their website and sample their music. If you are a fan of Prog Rock, you can probably “hear” some of what I’m describing in your head already. In which case, you absolutely need to seek this band out. Edensong have just released probably one of the best Prog Rock albums of the year, and certainly the best I’ve heard in a long time.

[Visit the band's website]

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