Review | Edge Of Paradise – Prophecy

Napalm Records

`Prophecy’ the new album of Edge Of Paradise will see the masses on March 7. This highly anticipated is the band’s sophomore record and marks the band’s debut with Napalm Records, promising to be their most intense and ambitious project to date. From first listen onwards the record unravels an enigmatic core with intense instrumentation and is by far the band’s heaviest to date. `Prophecy’ is a prophetic embrace of the future with Edge of Paradise firing on all engines.

The Los Angeles-based cinematic metal band have evolved their sound for `Prophecy’, incorporating 8-string guitars for the first time, deeping down on their overall sound. This new element allows the band to down lower enhancing the dark potential of their conceptual foreseeing content, perfectly captured by producer Mike Plotnikoff (Nita Strauss, Apocalyptica) the keen mixing intelligence of Jacob Hansen (Amaranthe, Arch Enemy), pressing a heavier and more powerful sound than ever before.

DARK AND OMINOUS FUTURE

Thematically, `Prophecy’ tackles the existential crisis of “The Singularity”, the hypothetical point where artificial intelligence surpasses human control and the dystopian outcome of a dark and ominous future. Front woman Margarita Monet‘s lyrics delve into the darkest corners of humanity, encouraging listeners to embrace their strength and vulnerability in the face of this technological threat. Embracing her vision, it is interesting to check out the art section on the band’s website, displaying and portraying Monet’s view on our future, embellishing the song’s content with visuals. The artwork of the record adds to this dystopian vision for the future, with the large robotic head, much like Giger’s Alien, ominous lurking towards the tiny person depicting mankind against a background painting our high-tech environment.

The album’s lead single, ,,Death Note’’, the opening track of the album, was accompanied by a cinematic music video, already offering fans a tantalizing glimpse of what was to come, and the album lives up to those expectations. In the EPK for `Prophecy’ Monet describes it as an intense battle for identity and connection’ in a world where digital forces threaten to dehumanize existence. The ominous tone and raspy riffs weld onto industrial elements, with Monet’s vocals scatted in the opening, create an intense experience. An industrial crawl brought to life in the video, persists on ,,Give it to Me (Mind Assassin)”, rapidly transgressing upon its buzzing riff and parading stance. Synths raining into the mix, the song balances the band’s past and present in the core.

MAGIC

,,Prophecy Unbound” follows and is opened with an impressive nesting lick and roaring riff carnage underneath the floating keys. Unleashing its intense power, the bridge and chorus alternate with Margarita flexing her vocals accordingly. She belts out with heartfelt anger, while omitting equally impressive melodies. The double bass rolls midway bridge into a narrative poetic vocal piece and when it hastens, the scorching solo in the middle is nothing short of baffling. The swirling notes inject a melodic element reminiscent to Broadway musical, magnified by 100. Extracting this ingredient, it is blown up out of proportion on the slower moving ,,Sad Life of a Rose”, where it is constructed onto digital raining synths and hoovering poignant keys swirling to the front constantly. Crooning her vocals, Monet embeds a melancholic note atop, with the guitarwork shining on all accounts.

Swagger laden, ,,Rogue (Aim for the Kill)” brings to life vivid images of robots advancing through human defence lines, with commanding its (guitar) stance and Monet’s ditto vocal delivery. Seamlessly orbiting into ,,The Other Side Of Fear”, the album keeps progressing in a fluent manner with the guitars and vocal deliveries as focal points in the turbulence of songs. Again, the guitars keep shooting to the front with static solos and licks atop the riff carnage that isn’t letting off. Solos and fretboard magic galore, Dave Bates and David Ruiz keep injecting the unexpected, adding to the ominous haul of the album.

THE VOCALS

Displaying her vocal abilities, ,,Hear Me” is toned down and meanders on a piano line with Margarita’s sultry vocals switching from Kate Bush toned frailty to her signature emotive tone. ,,Martyr (Monster)” builds back gradually to album’s heavy stance. The riff is blunt and steeply hooked, while the melody opening is subtle, adding to the previous ‘breather’ ballad. Heavy on the hook, the lyrics fall into a bliss with its rousing and heavily phrased chorus. The instrumental section is insane and the fretboard wizardry radiates with brilliance within the dark riffs.

Going even more industrial, Monet revokes her Bush-esque grandeur and injects in the parading section of ,,Relive Again” before belting out her anguish and agony atop the whirling guitars and synths, before falling into the album’s closing chapter ,,Falling Light”. The track puts a lid on the concept with Monet’s questions echoing in the opening, emphasizing the premonition of the album’s theme. Wailing synths and buzzsaw riffs spin into oblivion underneath Monet’s vocals powering up high and the band working into the heavy breakdown that eventually fades into silence.

EDGE OF PARADISE – THE CONCLUSION

It is pretty clear `Prophecy’ is the prophetic brainchild of Monet, brought to life by her counterparts of Edge Of Paradise, and she dominantly takes the helm with her emotive laden vocals. She shines in power and precision, delivering an intense execution where she leans more on her power than elegance. This reveals the darker side of the radiant stage persona she is, and vocalist she ‘was’: welcome!

For metal fans from the widest array of styles, `Prophecy’ is a daunting and challenging must-listen. The combination of Edge of Paradise’s signature cinematic sound with (much) heavier and insanely increased powerful instrumentation, combined with its thought-provoking themes, creates a record that will not only satisfy long-time followers but also attract new listeners to their unique brand of metal. The band’s growth is evident in their explorative manner and complex subjects and pushes their creative musical boundaries into an unmatched dimension.

Release date: 7 March 2025