EDEN’S CURSE – Live With The Curse (2015)
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After nine years of EDEN’S CURSE band history the multinational hard rock / melodic metal act now presents their first ever Live album, the double “Live With The Curse” to be released next week.
Initially formed as a studio project, EDEN’S CURSE has blossomed into a fully fledged first class live act with high ambitions. A UK tour with Stratovarius was the catalyst, while dates with Dream Theater gave them a taste of the big time.
The past two years has seen EDEN’S CURSE truly making their mark on the live scene from appearing at several festivals and even taking the brave steps of going out on their own seven date UK headlining tour.
With four fantastic and widely celebrated studio albums already under their belts, the thought of releasing a Live album was never far from the mind, but the main source of inspiration came from their ardent fan base.
The culmination was no more evident than after the last night of the ‘Symphony Of Sin UK Tour’’ in London. They band came off stage on such a high and the feedback and comments coupled with fan pressure to re-record the older material with new singer Nikola Mijic singing, made them certain that the time was right.
So planning began for the recording of the first ever EDEN’S CURSE Live album and anyone who knows the band will be aware of their high standards that they set for everything that they do – ‘Live With The Curse’ is no exception.
If you’re going to produce a live album there are rules. First, the sound has to be good, there’s no point if it isn’t studio quality.
Second, and this is vital, if you are recording an album in front of a live audience, the sound of that audience must make it onto the album. If you can’t hear them cheering, clapping, singing along you’d have been as well staying in the studio.
And EDEN’S CURSE had got it right. I defy anyone to listen to this without feeling like they were actually there.
Mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward, who has worked with the band throughout their career, every bit of the live experience is included, from their onstage introduction by Tom Russell to the little chats with the crowd and the unholy racket the crowd made at every opportunity.
This album Rocks in a relentless way. Nikola’s vocal never misses a note, Thorsten Koehne plays guitar like a possessed man and Paul Logue (Bass, Backing Vocals), John Clelland (Drums) and Steve Williams (Keyboards) bring it all together into something pretty close to perfection.
Nikola does a brilliant job of bringing the crowd into the show as well, introducing songs, explaining what they’re about and getting participation going. It all adds to the atmosphere, which as I’ve already said is crucial to a live album.
Highlights for me include opening track “Symphony of Sin”, which sets out the bands intentions from the very beginning. This gig, this album is going to break you.
The pace and energy is non stop, as Nikola roars at the crowd and they roar back. Covering tracks from all four EDEN’S CURSE albums the band powers through a set list which translates to a two disc album of over 100 minutes.
It’s long, but it never drags, as the energy refuses to drop.
Towards the end of disc one look out for an extended guitar solo from Thorsten. Now, this man is one of the best guitar players in the scene today (ex- Sunstorm, Demon Drive, Hardline). He rarely lifts his head, lost in the music but he plays as if he has two pairs of hands.
What I really like about EDEN’S CURSE is the storytelling in each song, from “Masquerade Ball” to “Rock Bottom”. It means that the songs improve with each listen, as you move from listening to the tune to actually taking in the lyrics. I have to also mention the fan favourite “Evil and Divine”.
As final track “Angels and Demons” ends the crowd begin to chant: ‘Eden’s Curse, Eden’s Curse, Eden’s Curse’
Recording took place on November 28th, 2014 at an EDEN’S CURSE headlining show at The Classic Grand in Glasgow. Fans from all over Europe, and as far away as Japan, traveled to Scotland to witness and be part of this truly special event.
What more does a Live Album need than a enthusiastic crowd, a great club and a highly motivated band?
“Live With The Curse” has it all, and ROCKS.
CD One:
1. Symphony Of Sin
2. Break The Silence
3. Masquerade Ball
4. Black Widow
5. Trinity
6. Fly Away
7. Just Like Judas
8. Fallen From Grace
9. Jerusalem Sleeps
10. Guitar Solo
11. Time To Breathe
CD Two:
1. Rock Bottom
2. Devil In Disguise
3. Wings To Fly
4. No Holy Man
5. Unbreakable
6. Judgement Day
7. Band Introductions
8. Evil & Divine
9. Angels & Demons
Paul Logue – Bass, Vocals
Thorsten Koehne – Guitars, Vocals
John Clelland – Drums
Steve Williams – Keyboards
Nikola Miji – Vocals
PRE-ORDER:
www.amazon.co.uk/Live-Curse-Edens/dp/B00SVYNTIM
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