Solitaire

Edenbridge | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: July 2, 2010
• Label: Napalm Records Handels GmbH
• Copyright: (c) 2010 Napalm Records Handels GmbH
• Total Length: 52:51
• Genres: Hard Rock & Metal/Hard Rock
• ASIN: B003PHA7A8
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent, July 3, 2010

By 

E. Scott - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Solitaire (MP3 Download)

Solitaire has some good tracks; I'd put the top three as the title track, Higher, and Skyline's End. Beyond that, several of the songs feel like they're trying to be interesting but just not quite succeeding. My Earth Dream, the previous album, was spectacular, and Edenbridge understandably had a difficult time reaching the high standard they had set with that album. Lyrically, Solitaire is still interesting, but musically it is just a little boring at times. It's not a bad album, and fans of Edenbridge will probably enjoy it, but I would say it is a step below My Earth Dream. All in all, I recommend it to fans of Edenbridge, as it has some stand out tracks, but people new to the band may get a better introduction to them by starting with My Earth Dream or even Grand Design.

4.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars - more of the same, impressive as it is, July 16, 2011

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Solitaire (MP3 Download)

Led by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lanvall and featuring the vocal talents of the lovely Sabine Edelsbacher, Austria's Edenbridge is one of the most talented and accomplished bands in the crowded female-fronted metal scene. Edenbridge distinguished themselves from the pack by opting for a bombastic, decidedly un-gothic sound and a non-operatic vocal approach, and cemented their reputation by releasing a series of very high quality albums. Solitaire is their seventh studio album.

Everything about this album screams high class and quality. Lanvall is an accomplished musician, and he really shines here, particularly on keyboards. His symphonic arrangements and general songwriting skills are first rate. The production of the album is also impeccable. Lanvall took the lead, with assistance from Dennis Ward (of Pink Cream 69), who also provides backing vocals, and Karl Groom (of Threshold), who assisted with mixing the album. And of course there's Sabine Edelsbacher's vocal performance. She is one of the best, if not the best, female vocalists in metal, and she sounds incredible on Solitaire, showing great range, depth and emotion on every song. And she's gorgeous, which has nothing whatsoever to do with the album, but is still true.

Back to Solitaire; this is your typical Edenbridge album. It's a soaring, majestic, melodic affair that's still very much a real metal album. That's worth mentioning when you consider how rarely albums by bands like Delain, Leaves Eyes and the like sound like metal albums at all. There are some great heavy rhythms here, which provide a metallic punch to Sabine's angelic vocals and Lanvall's symphonic arrangements. The album's highlights are the title track, "Come Undone" (which would make a great single), and the epic "Brothers Diamir," though aside from the instrumental intro and outro, all of the songs on Solitaire are fairly strong,

So what's the problem? Well, the problem is that we've already heard this album a half dozen times. There really isn't anything on Solitaire that you wouldn't have found a decade ago on Sunrise in Eden. For some fans, this will no doubt be a good thing. If you love Edenbridge's formula and aren't looking for any variation, then you will probably love Solitaire. If, however, you expect to see bands grow and challenge themselves and their listeners, you won't find much of that here.

4.0 out of 5 stars Out of This World, December 5, 2010

By 

E. Gratis - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Solitaire (Audio CD)

I am a newcomer to Edenbridge. At first I wasn't sure what to think of them. They are an interesting blend between a melodic metal, and a thrash-metal band, as best I can describe them. They have a lot of interesting sounds, you can never pin them down I guess that is why some reviewers are disappointed that they don't sound anything like they did on another album of theirs.

I don't like all of the songs on this album, and I don't think they will stick with you for a long time. But despite that, there are some really amazing songs. A couple of my favorites are "Out of This World" and "Further Afield".

"Out of This World" I think is an example of how petulant and transient their style is, not even seeming to be homogenous within the same song. A part of me wishes they made this song more cohesive, but it is supposed to be "Out of This World", so I guess you can't expect it to fit some mold like that.

"Further Afield" is a song so far-reaching in vision and technical talent that I think that is their main achievement on this album. Sometimes to relax I try to play along on my guitar to some metal bands' CDs, not exactly what they play, but just notes in the same key. Well, when I had this CD in, "Further Afield" seems to be such a conundrum that I cannot even pin it down in one key, it is all over the place, but somehow it still sounds good. Really the kind of song that makes you wonder it is so complex and inspired. If you like female fronted metal, you might like it!

"Solitaire" really isn't that bad either, and I think that is one of the songs that will stick with you the most from this album, besides maybe "Higher".

Oh, and I almost forgot, the intro & exit are actually really cool, although perhaps too epic to put on your regular playlist unless your life is really awesome =). Would make good soundtrack in a movie or something though.

Overall, some great songs. 4 stars, docking one since not all the songs will stick with you, and the production quality feels like it could have been slightly better for the vocals at certain times, though I can't quite put my finger on what it is that's not quite right there.