edenbridge - myearthdream (2008)

where symphonic- meets prog metal. here's the easiest way to describe myearthdream. the album (and the band, for that matter) remains steadily symphonic though; the few progressive breaks aren't enough to let the album stray from its deeply symphonic nature. but you can't deny producer karl groom (threshold's mastermind) left his unmistakable mark on the songwriting, thrusting in his unique, trademark guitar sound and spreading it here and there all across the album. he's credited for providing a solo effort on "shadowplay", but you can hear his influence throughout the whole record, especially on the title track and the aggressive, strongly guitar-driven "adamantine".
the album is a good piece of symphonic metal, as i said. the title suite is a testimony to that. as every well-constructed suite, it ranges through different kinds of sound, from the darkish beginning to the melodic vocal passages - sabine's voice is just as beautiful as always. all in all, the only remarkable turn the band took with this record, is a shift towards a more guitar-driven sound, yet without denying the keyboards the very important role they've always played in their music. as a matter of fact, the rhythmics are, say, crunchier than usual - but other than diverting the overall sound from melody to mere rhythm, that rather provides a new, efficient background to the underlining, driving melodicity. you can say the crunchy riffs blend perfeclty with the otherwise clear sound of the album.
to sum it all up, we're dealing with a very good mix of melody and rhythm here. all the songs are very good, and each in its own right is worth several listens. the slow-paced "whale rider", for example, stands out thanks to its delicacy; "undying devotion", "fallen for grace" and "place of higher power" all stay faithful to the typical edenbridge sound - yet undergoing the influcence groom brings in. it is remarkable, again, that even the "old school" songs (in terms of closeness to the "old" band sound) leave room to the novelties; and, the "backbone" these novelties provide never betray the originality of the band's trademarks.
a catchy album - that goes without saying by now. and what may appeal the most, with this new approach to the guitar riffs, the austrian quartet really found even something else new and original that raises them quite above the symphonic metal average.

thus spake the cennsor: 8/10

testament - the formation of damnation (2008)

to put it short: the comeback of the year. to add a few words: far better than anything i've heard so far this year. now, who doesn't know testament? it's simply thrash at its finest. it's of the most influential bands hailing from the bay area, the forefathers and founders of the genre along with the once glorious metallica. but that's rethoric. what matters here, is that this one album kicks ass. i might have something for much awaited releases, just like symphony x' paradise lost last year. same thing here. testament haven't been still and unactive during this hiatus; they've been playing, touring, and, as we can appreciate now, writing new music. whatever made them find their old thrash vein back again, the guys are back. and they're making quite a statement with the formation of damnation. they rock their way through the whole album, shouting in chuck billy's raw voice: we are back to rock your heads off.
nothing really new, no experimental mix of different styles, nothing of the sorts. but do you need that to make a great album? each song stands out of its own, and that alone should speak for the band's creativity. my personal hits are "more than meets the eye" (preceeded by an intro which flows perfectly into it), "the persecuted won't forget", "henchmen ride" and last and foremost, "F.E.A.R.", perhaps the catchiest among the catchy. but it's almost random picking, as the whole album is a constant, sharp, fast-paced cavalcade through energetic riffs and the great solos that skolnick's mastery is expected to bring out.
one great thing about this album, is that it never tires you out. no good album should; this one really doesn't. it's not too long (it slightly fails to reach the 50 minutes mark), nor too short. and once you've listened through, it'll most likely have you press the "repeat all" button - over and over. there are not many albums you never really get bored with; and this is definitely one of them. and unlike many albums, no lowlights are to be found. every song is worth many a listen - not meaning they need many in order to be appreciated, rather you will want to hear them over again.
some said the album is not so technical, not virtuosistic at all - is that a bad thing? yet it's fresh, powerful and catchy, and that's what matters. i think it's no blasphemy to say some of the new songs will soon share the testament's classics' fortune. the stage will be the ultimate test - and no doubt they'll pass it. as of now, let's enjoy this recording. especially if you're in the need for something fast and massive. that's two things testament can quite combine.

thus spake the cennsor: 8,5/10