Roger Staffelbach's Angel of Eden "The End of Never" is one of the most long winded titles to come around in awhile. Just thinking about it makes your head spin. As does the music. "The End of Never" seems like a disc that will do just that. Never end. Ever. It's one speedy power metal-esque track after another, steeped in neo-classical trappings and delivering a disc that is entirely and utterly average. Staffelbach has also never been all that impressive. He is the guitarist in Artension, a progressive band that takes the derogatory draped term "prog noodling" to a whole new level. Artension can be absolutely mind numbing, and so it is with Angel of Eden.

Carsten Schulz from Evidence One can't even use his vocal prowess to save most of these tunes. It's all very reminiscent of Yngwie Malmsteen and other neo classical artists from the 80s, just run through the heart with the modern sword of power metal and you get an idea of what comes bleeding out. The title track sees Carsten flattening out like a cat on a pavement in the dominating soul sucking sweat of summer's heat. He just can't manage to keep up the blistering theatrics that are not just asked of here, they are demanded. And you can hear the strain on the vocals on certain songs.

Perhaps that's the major problem with the accessibility of the disc. It's pedal to the metal, accelerator floored for the entire duration. There's no letting up through the double drum headache inducing "Dreamchaser", the cheetah fleetness of "Into the Black", the elephant herd gone stomping wild through the underbrush for "Stampede" and the crackling "Keys to Avalon", which throws a bone back to that Malmsteen influence again. And while the Malmsteen similarities are being pointed out quite wild and furiously, there's reason for it, as the final song is indeed a special cover bonus of "You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget", which happens to be one of the more commercial little gems from the maestro's early days (we're talking "Trilogy" here). The best of the ten pack batch would be the instrumentals - despite Schulz - as they come closest to honoring the good name of "songwriting" and actually feel more complete than the "on speed" adrenaline junkie tracks that include voice with the mindless guitar shredding.

When it comes down to the wire, Angel of Eden is set to please fans of the neo-classical power metal movement but perhaps no one else. Absent are catchy choruses, memorable melodies and the like. However, there are guest stars galore (including once Artension crooner John West), some absolutely dazzling guitarwork from Staffelbach, tons of fast paced songs meant to blister ear drums, and of course, the attraction of hotshot Schulz as frontman. The songs themselves however do not measure up to the talent or the performances, and are more showcase pieces for these guys to show off their chops and see just how fast they can push the buttons than anything resembling solid songwriting. It's everything you would want from a genre mingling disc of this nature, minus the entertainment factor.

Written by Alanna
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
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Ratings

Alanna: 5/10

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Comment by Little Drummer Boy (Member) - Friday, March 21, 2008

View Profile Comments: 166 Ratings: 46 Reminiscent of Yngwie Malmsteen is an understatement. Though the musicianship is superb the CD over all is overindulgent and extremely redundant. Carsten Schulz did have a hard time with the songs, but I found it most prevalent on (of all songs) "You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget". There is a richness that Marc Boals had in the recording as he executed expression all at the right moments. This is just is not heard when Schultz did it. I am certainly not saying Schults because he can, it just requires an exceptionally gifted vocalist to keep up. Not to many and I think the majority worked with Malmsteen. Posted by Little Drummer Boy Friday, March 21, 2008