Virgin Steele - Visions Of Eden
Even though this album is somehow as could be expected and all the way Virgin Steele, it's still refreshing, ingenious and different in a fascinating way.
All tracks apart from a single one are beyond 6 minutes, the production has a dark edge to it, still very balanced and crisp and it's like a dramatic and all surrounding veil has been put over these songs, giving the whole album a special grave and tense glow.

After starting out with the eponym's debut in 1982, Visions Of Eden is the 11th studio album from the band. So after intensive listening I have naturally embraced it as an essential part of life just as the others, I just hope that this album will bring Virgin Steele to an even greater fan base.

11 songs and a total of nearly 80 minutes equal a monumental and complex display; the following is a short commentary of some personal highlights.

Immortal I Stand (The Birth Of Adam) is one of the bands finest moments ever and one of the albums most forward creations. An exceptional element is the dynamic keyboard and drum collaboration, it provides a total unique drive to song, another is found with the catchy and majestic chorus.I will let you explore the countless remaining treats yourself.

With its almost 10 minutes, Adorned With The Rising Cobra is the albums lengthiest track and even though it has its own special vibe and elegant flow, a really effusive element is somehow missed.
David's passionate vocal delivery and subtle piano sections are fabulous.

A heavy guitar riff leads The Ineffable Name down a faster and fiercer road, still with plenty of tricky corners and effectual bumps. One thing is for sure; this album is by no means missing any creativity, this being a perfect and constantly evolving example.

The real scope of the albums dramatic potential sets in from the first second of the spellbinding Black Light On Black, insane vocal dramatics of the most convincing kind are expertly followed by a thunderous guitar solo accompanied by bombastic and wonderfully played drumming. Next up is a huge atmospheric section slowly dragging the tempo out of the song until it's only vocals and soft piano tones creating the most moving scenario, and all of a sudden the madness and utter rage returns, instrumentalized through double bass drumming and screaming guitars.now this is what I call Barbaric Romantic Symphonic Metal.

Bonedust keeps the momentum going with a massive groove and thick bass structures. I adore the sudden break and mystic mid-section passage, so typical Virgin Steele and still so unexpected and captivating.

The epic key layers opening Angel Of Death gets me every time, I can't explain it but this magical ambience just sends me away to the most wonderful of places. This comprehensive monster reflects a sombre and dreadful side to the story with a crushingly deep rhythm structure, and then all of a sudden David sings out "high above where the sunlight rips the sea, I am free" in a tone carrying positivism and hope. I'm speechless, how can anyone make music this divine I keep asking myself.
This is one of the shortest eight and a half minute songs I know of, it borrows your inner soul and returns it with the harsh marks of life, but by all means richer.

God Above God uses a delicate acoustic guitar to create a sad and heartfelt mood supported by the most fantastic key background. Edward Pursino throws in some moving lead threads brining it to the perfect finalisation.

The Hidden God is mostly a mid-tempo track that somehow manages to inject a lot of what this album is all about: Emotional vocals, creative bass passages, shifting structures, ingenious drumming and pompous keys...the chorus isn't the most thrilling one but this is yet another strong composition.

If you have difficulty in defining the word drama or simply grandeur, the opening 17 seconds of Childslayer could perhaps be of help. Seriously, I have never heard anything quite like it, the crushing impact of the drums and David's otherworldly and overly sensitive screams as the perfect counterweight; it's just an unforgettable moment.
Apart from that this is the albums shortest and most direct song, and placed in just the right order when considering the larger picture, tempo-filled and crisp.

The extremely touching scenario slowly unfolding as When Dusk Fell opens it's all embracing and caressing arms gave me shivers down my spine the first time I heard it and I don't think it will ever stop having this effect. The atmosphere hits with immense intensity, the keyboard harmony is pure magic, the soulful guitar solo breathtaking and the vocals spellbinding.

Visions Of Eden ends a most spectacular journey with a song being very much its own in both style and overall feeling. The first part has an experimental structure and half way through we get introduced to the overall refrain formula, being fairly simply but containing an immense force and even better, it keeps evolving as the song grows. I have a very hard time removing it form my mind.not that I even want to, it has an indescribable healing and sedative effect which comes from the tender way David sings and transforms it, it's heaven sent.

The songs take the time they need to build up the right atmosphere and feeling, once in a while I miss a more direct path, but I can't say the chosen way of doing things isn't successful, it's perhaps exactly what makes this album stand out and appear compelling and so hard to put aside.
The layers are vast, the details astounding and the emotional context deep.

If we single out the keyboard on this record I think it makes up the strongest and most important role in any Virgin Steele album to date, I have mentioned a lot of examples and if you need a last convincing one, try listening to the melody line at 8:52 in Adorned With The Rising Cobra, simply magnificent.

This time around David has written all the music himself, but the album wouldn't have been nearly as amazing if it hadn't been for his faithful friend and guitar maestro Edward Pursino, whose guitar both bends and bleeds, Frank Gilchrist's impressive drum dynamics and Joshua Block's inventive bass usage.

The album deals with the dawn of divinity, how religion has been used and abused and raises philosophical questions towards its meaning.
On micro level it's about the suppression of the feminine essence, a hymn to determinism and honour, it's about struggle, unfathomable affliction but also a delicate glimpse of curative liberation.
Need I say that the lyrics are intelligent, relevant, poetic and sophistically enchanting.

Virgin Steele has again proven that they master the genre of breathtaking, pompous and epic Metal.

Visionary RevelationZ: Immortal I Stand (The Birth Of Adam), Black Light On Black, Angel Of Death and When Dusk Fell.

Written by Tommy
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Show all reviews by Tommy

Ratings

Tommy: 8.5/10

Members: No members have rated this album yet.


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RevelationZ Comments


Comment by Pat (Anonymous) - Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Great album, it has more of their 80s sound in a few songs, which is a good thing. The vocals are amazing as usual.

I wish it were a little more consistent.


Comment by ME!! (Anonymous) - Monday, August 14, 2006
this is IT! what a great album! i can,t wait until the ALBUM comes out.
great METAL just the way i like it!
cheers to VIRGIN STEELE!!


Comment by TyleX (Anonymous) - Sunday, August 20, 2006
To be truthful i've never really listed to Virgin Steele before & I know they've bee around for years , playing complex music (My favorite type of music!).....But I went out the other day & purchased this album & I'm glad I did , it's amazing.....It's like Dream Theater , Fates Warning , Rush & Manowar all mixed into one beautiful mix........The song "GOD ABOVE GOD"


Comment by TyleX (Anonymous) - Sunday, August 20, 2006
I accidentally posted the last comment before I was done.......SORRY!!......Anyways the song "GOD ABOVE GOD" is one of the best songs ever written and ever made , I can't get enough of the song , simply stunning!........This album is a perfect 10/10


Comment by VonSeux (Anonymous) - Thursday, August 24, 2006
oh my god! i was waiting an live album but this is such good news!!

nice coverart too


Comment by SERB (Anonymous) - Thursday, August 24, 2006
Angel Of Death
Childslayer

NO COMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Comment by SERBIAN BOY (Anonymous) - Thursday, August 24, 2006
THIS IS THE GREATEST ALBUM EVER
i listhen V. Steele since 1992.
and this is something magnificant.

they are realy THE GODS OF BARBARYAN METAL



(Sorry for bad eanglish)


Comment by VonSeux (Anonymous) - Monday, August 28, 2006
i've listened and i'm a bit surprised by the comments... i think it's an flat album... no steps beyond anything the band has done so far


Comment by Juan (Anonymous) - Thursday, September 14, 2006
Buy it soon as possible, there main works in the worlds, this album from Virgin Steele, Visions Of Eden that's it!

Thanks to Virgin Steele's band!


Juan


Comment by Per (Anonymous) - Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Brilliant!


Comment by Mads Aanum (Anonymous) - Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Well after about 12 times of listening to this album I finally begin to see the brilliance of Virgin Steele still lives... I was not impressed at first but now I feel it growing on me day by day...

Mads 2006


Comment by Warlord (Anonymous) - Friday, October 20, 2006
The album didn't impress me on the first listening but I gave it some time and man am I glad for that. Virgin Steele delivers once again. It's not as great as Marriage part 2 (not many albums are) but it's definitely amazing and worth your time and money.


Comment by Christopher (Anonymous) - Monday, November 6, 2006
This album just doesn't work for me. Very spotty and boring in many places. I really like Virgin Steele's Invictus album, but many of their other albums have one or two songs that I like and a bunch of filler material. This is no different. To make matters worse, the cover is easily the worst they've ever created, and the interior photos are ridiculous. Come on, guys in their mid-40's wearing their shirts half open??? Get serious. It's not the 70's anymore.


Comment by lucas712 (Anonymous) - Friday, January 12, 2007
I despirately need the lyrics for God above God...anyone? Help? Please?











Review by Tommy

Released by
Sanctuary - 2006

Tracklisting
1. Immortal I Stand (The Birth Of Adam)
2. Adorned With The Rising Cobra
3. The Ineffable Name
4. Black Light On Black
5. Bonedust
6. Angel Of Death
7. God Above God
8. The Hidden God
9. Childslayer
10. When Dusk Fell
11. Visons Of Eden


Supplied by Target


Style
Symphonic Heavy Metal

Related links
Visit the band page

Virgin Steele - Official Website

Other articles
Invictus - (Tommy)

The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell - Part One - (Tommy)

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell - Part Two - (Tommy)

Band Information - (Steen)

The House Of Atreus Act I - (Tommy)

Life Among The Ruins - (Tommy)

Age Of Consent - (Tommy)

Noble Savage - (Tommy)

The House Of Atreus Act II - (Tommy)

I - (Tommy)

Guardians Of The Flame - (Tommy)

Interview With David DeFeis - (Tommy)

Life Among the Ruins - (Alanna)

The Black Light Bacchanalia - (Steen)

The Black Light Bacchanalia - (Steen)



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