Having a few releases behind them and once featuring James Rivera (Helstar/Malice) on vocals, New Eden return after a massive 9 year break between releases, a band originally formed in 1993 by Steel Prophet guitarist Horacio Colmenares. ‘Solving for X’ is not a complex math problem, nor is it another limp power metal album. This release loses some of the originalUSmetal influence, but not so much that it is forgotten, and approaches the music with a very powerful production with beefy bass drum and bass guitar pounding. ‘Flames for Hades’ is the special track, the one that really stands out, the guitar work is great. ‘Brainless’ loses some momentum, there are time changes and the vocal style goes somewhere towards recent Peavy Wagner/Rage influences. When the speed picks up, this is where New Eden exert their charm. Singer Rod Arias (a new member) proves you need not look to past singers for comparisons of passion and sheer ability. Far from it, Arias vocal range is rather good, bar a few bum notes here and there.
Musically, this is on par with some of the big releases of today and even yesterday, it is a melodic style, but the production really brings out its epic qualities. ‘Unsolved Aggressions’ is very fast, the kick drums assault your speaker system, then after the intro, it kind of changes the style, to almost thrash speed, especially the staccato guitar picking. ‘Searching the Loss’ really picks up the classic US metal sound, this is the one, this is the track I have been waiting for. Whilst what has gone before is rather tasty, the mix of style and delivery can become a little confusing. So therefore, I find this happy medium in the aforementioned track and its follower ‘Crawling Erect’ that’s sounds a little like Helstar if I am honest. Thankfully the last track can be skipped or deleted, that is ‘Three Words’, the words I am thinking of as I listen to this poor effort is Jimmy Nail and Crocodile Shoes, yep, it’s a little that way, a very strange track that bears no resemblance to the rest of the album.
New Eden return with an album full of fresh ideas, I do feel that everything has been committed to the recording studio at once, sometimes leading to a confusing genre tag. However, what is on offer is both technically challenging and relevant in today’s metal scene, especially that with the tag of US Power Metal and that bears no resemblance to the Euro metal scene, thankfully.
(6.5/10 Paul Maddison)
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