Empires of Eden is a "super" group lead by former Dungeon guitarist Stu Marshall. Stu has brought together some pretty big names from the metal world to handle the vocals on Empires of Eden's new album Reborn in Fire. Names like Mike Vescera (Obsession, Loudness), Sean Peck (Cage), Zak Stevens (Savatage) and Steve Grimmet (Grim Reaper, Lionsheart) all grace tracks on the album along with some native Australian singers who also appeared on the band's first album. Stu himself handles the guitars and bass and Jason Manewell handles the drums.
Will all that talent you might expect a huge tour de force of Heavy/Power Metal. Expect away, but don't get your hopes up. Marshall is a talented guitarist and my untrained ears would put him at least a couple of notches above the "standard" Power Metal axe-wielders. The singers all put in good performances. Where Reborn in Fire comes up short is mainly in the songwriting. There are plenty of crunchy riffs and Marshall's fretboard work, but the songs themselves are really quite flat. There's a music-by-numbers feel to the structure and the execution sounds mechanical. In other words, the choruses aren't very catchy and hooks simply don't hook.
Reborn of Fire isn't likely to turn anyone off of Heavy/Power Metal, but it isn't going to win any converts to the cause either. Well played but ultimately a bit dull.
