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Alma de Libertad

    
       
       
       
     
             
Eden are a power metal band from Spain formed in 2002 releasing six albums to date, the bands sixth 'Alma de Libertad' was released in 2024...    
             
...featuring nine songs over forty six highly melodic minutes! Founded by guitarist Javier Diaz (ex WarCry), Eden's current line-up consists of vocalist Fernando Gonzalez, guitarist Alvaro Cocina, bass player Juanjo Diaz, and drummer Nando Arguelles, the bands new album an immensely infectious affair to prove once again that metal music has no language barrier! All the songs on 'Alma de Libertad' are sung in the bands native language, and with my knowledge of Spanish limited to "hola", "adios" and "gracias", I haven't a clue what's being sung, or even what the songs are all about! But as I've already mentioned, metal music has no language barrier, the music pouring outta 'Alma de Libertad' is bouncy, catchy and smile inducing power metal - the sub two minute instrumental 'Cenizas' building an air of anticipation as the album strides on to (album opener) 'Ave Fenix'.    
             
And a majestic and highly elegant (album) opener too, the band proceeding to pound the ground very hard as 'Ave Fenix' gets underway - the sound of heavy, power metal rising high in the air! But with added melodious intent to raise the bouncy, smile inducing feel to new and uncharted heights, I defy anyone to not be boasting a smile a mile wide right now! A glorious opening salvo, the album heavy's up a little with the energetic and faster paced 'Nunca mas', the band oozing a massive metal come rock aura that was prevalent during the eighties evolution for music. And that chorus, catchy or what! Even I'm trying to sing a long and I can't speak the language let alone sing it! The title song 'Alma de Libertad' takes the heaviness to an even heavier level, the band planting one foot firmly on the heavy metal monitor to adopt the iconic metal gallop - the catchiness of the chorus break much stronger than the previous song too! The album has gotten better and better with each song that romps on by, and we're only three songs in - 'Muerte Carmesi' taking over the power metal baton and racing off at pace.    
             
Eden have been immensely energetic since 'Alma de Libertad' (the album) began, 'Muerte Carmesi' incredibly, increasing the energy level - the band an unstoppable force of nature hell bent on delivering a fucking good time to every listener, fan and follower everywhere! 'Muerte Carmesi' will even get your feet tapping it's that infectious - mine having been since the song started! And oh my God - the levels of everything have just been turned up beyond maximum for 'Ella', the hardest hitting song heard so far, the band proceeding to shudder the ground, wobble walls and shake buildings! The bombastic oomph here is phenomenal, Eden punching hard and kicking harder, every listener startled by the sheer power emanating from the Spanish five-piece! Can the album get any better? You bet your bottom dollar, err euro, it can - 'Puede ser' entering the fray as the obligatory ballad that seems to appear on every modern day power metal album. The reined in power is palpable, the band doing a fantastic job of holding it all in, 'Puede ser' breaking out into a hymn-like swagger after a minute and a half to raise elegance to a whole new level. And then the band make me eat my words at two minutes in, Eden releasing every ounce of energy to surge forth with sensational power and purpose - 'Puede ser' now a million miles away from the ballad I first thought it was gonna be!    
             
And the band continue at pace with the heavy, power metal driven '666' bustling into view and roaring off with measured determination, Eden remaining at the heavier end of the power metal genre! To say 'Alma de Libertad' has come as a surprise package is gonna be a massive understatement, the album grabbing my attention right from the off and never letting go - I'm fucking positive it's gonna do the same to you too! And I've not stopped smiling since song one, the grin on my face stretching from ear to ear, 'El fin' making an emphatic entrance to bang heads harder than at any other time on 'Alma de Libertad' (the album). Yet for all of the bands energy and oomph, the melodious nature sewn into every song on offer is just stunning - Eden definitely one of the biggest, if not the biggest surprises of the year! The band bring the house down with the albums final song 'Como un Leon', the most heavy, power metal song on offer - there's simply more drive here than any where else, the band maintaining an all conquering intensity level from minute one to the forty sixth. What a song and what an album!    
             
Overall, one of the biggest surprises of the year, 'Alma de Libertad' has huge infectious and energy levels, Eden delivering a belter of an album.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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