IMAGES OF EDEN: Angel Born

Images of Eden have produced another bombshell of an album. Angel Born is the title of their latest release for Pavement Entertainment and quite honestly it DEMANDS you to listen. A casual listen in the background would be a crime for this bit of musical virtue brings such a level of commitment and passion you might miss it otherwise. In a world of hit and run artists where they are quickly forgotten, Images of Eden have offered up a helping of metal that has distinction and class.

The depth of the lyrical content is quite good, not a rehash of cliché or overused metal tropes. It is highly recommended that you read Jonathan Swank’s interview with Gordon Tittsworth (singer/rhythm guitarist) and Steve Dorssom (drummer). They break down so much of this; it really is worth the time, not to mention reviews such as this are generally designed to give you a small taste of what is to come.

That said, if you aren’t familiar with Images of Eden image a blender of Fates Warning, Queensryche, Iron Maiden, a touch of Dream Theater (Brainstorm as well) and voila (sort of) IOE is the one of many possible results. Please understand as well Images is not a clone of any of the above artists, all musicians have influences in this case I use them as descriptors. They are heavy, melodic, progressive and powerful. Chops they have in abundance, clearly a 2019 tour with Metal Church and Doro left them no worse for wear. Fantastic guitar sounds with plenty of mean riffs and solos to scale the mountains. New axe man Victor Morrell delivers solid, crisp, powerful playing that drives this album along. Steve Dorssom’s drumming conveys an almost melodic quality, not just offering the backbone, but also enhancing the melodies without overplaying. L.Dean Harris brings the swirling keyboards and piano to this epic album, enhancing without dominating the musical landscape. Eric Mulvaine’s stellar bass playing drives the bottom end while adding his own flair. However its singer Gordon Tittsworth vocal performance and passionate lyric that provide the bow and wrap this entire package together.

With lyrical content such as:

“I cannot see beyond the darkened clouds

For the rain never seems to end

Please God lift this weight

Another chapter in your life that you had never read

From a storybook I’d written long ago

Laugh, l know you can

Life is a gift from me

Rain, go away

And blind me with your sun, renew me today

Free me from my own mind, take me away

Into a marigold sun”

– Marigold Sun​

World class song writing and amazing arrangements are in store for the discerning listener. Video track “Autumn is Burning” is a powerful album opener with a hint of what is to come. The title song is a beautiful song with a most uplifting message. Heavier songs such as “Killing God” leave no doubt about the prowess of these guys. Mixing melody, power and touches of prog most tracks clock in the 4-6 minute time span. There is however only one song clocking in past that, the beautifully elegant “In Memory of Me.”

“In Memory of Me” is a song about death; however it speaks to you the listener not in clichéd terms but in values of real human communication. Have you lost a love one? What would that individual say to you as your struggle to continue on occurs? This is a real powerhouse of an album closer, highly memorable with several movements which lead onward to a beautiful conclusion.

The production elements are tight and clean throughout. Guitars are loud and in your face without compromise, while the rhythm section is punchy and bright. Vocals can’t be missed and aren’t buried in the mix. It’s a rare thing to have so much sonic accuracy on any release these days, with some being too compressed which kill the dynamics. Or even in the mastering where the EQ buries or eliminates certain frequencies. Angel Born is a top shelf album with some fantastic artistic touches.

The listener is given a musical palate that ranges from heavy to the more melodic (without losing it’s power). A cover of Triumph’s “Fight the Good Fight” appears and sounds right at home in 2021. Some appropriate retooling occurs which apparently the Triumph crew enjoyed so much they shared it to their own website!

Angel Born is a fantastic album. A top shelf release for 2021 which will undoubtedly appear on many Top Ten lists for this year. Grab it now!!

Keven Crothers

imagesofeden.com

World class song writing and amazing arrangements are in store for the discerning listener. Video track “Autumn is Burning” is a powerful album opener with a hint of what is to come. The title song is a beautiful song with a most uplifting message. Heavier songs such as Killing God leave no doubt about the prowess of these guys. Mixing melody, power and touches of prog most tracks clock in the 4-6 minute time span. There is however only one song clocking in past that, the beautifully elegant In Memory of Me. In Memory of Me is a song about death; however it speaks to you the listener not in clichéd terms but in values of real human communication. Have you lost a love one? What would that individual say to you as your struggle to continue on occurs? This is a real powerhouse of an album closer, highly memorable with several movements which lead onward to a beautiful conclusion. The production elements are tight and clean throughout. Guitars are loud and in your face without compromise, while the rhythm section is punchy and bright. Vocals can’t be missed and aren’t buried in the mix. It’s a rare thing to have so much sonic accuracy on any release these days, with some being too compressed which kill the dynamics. Or even in the mastering where the EQ buries or eliminates certain frequencies. Angel Born is a top shelf album with some fantastic artistic touches. The listener is given a musical palate that ranges from heavy to the more melodic (without losing it’s power). A cover of Triumph’s “Fight the Good Fight” appears and sounds right at home in 2021. Some appropriate retooling occurs which apparently the Triumph crew enjoyed so much they shared it to their own website! Angel Born is a fantastic album. A top shelf release for 2021 which will undoubtedly appear on many Top Ten lists for this year. Grab it now!!

About Author