eden's curse trinity

Released: 18 March 2011 Label: AFM

Multi-national in composition, melodic metal moshers Eden’s Curse swing back into action with cunningly titled third album Trinity which follows firmly in the footsteps of 2008’s The Second Coming. If you’re hoping for any sort of radical re-invention, you’re going to be disappointed.

There may be a little more polish here and there, and a few tweaks in the songwriting, but Trinity deviates very little from the band’s well-trodden path, unapologetically offering more of the same.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing as the band is nothing if not consistent. Existing fans will find plenty to shout about on these twelve tracks and it’s difficult not to get caught up in the huge hooks and shredding leads that dominate the record. Whether out and out rockers like the title track or the uber-glossy ballad Guardian Angel, the album has an appealing retro feel which MTV would have lapped up in the late eighties.

Caught somewhere between a less progressively-inclined Queensryche and Dokken without the hair metal trappings, Eden’s Curse certainly has no shortage of talent and they have once again created a decent album. However, their cover of Dio’s Rock n Roll Children which wraps up the album shows their weaknesses as well as their strengths.

Like the rest of the album, it is solidly played and earnestly delivered, but it also encapsulates the fact that ultimately, Eden’s Curse doesn’t quite possess enough absolutely top drawer songs to elevate themselves to the next level.

If only their songs had half the passion, energy and sheer metal genius of the vast canon left to us by dear Ronnie, Eden’s Curse would be laughing. As it is, you need to decide whether a steady but unspectacular record is worth your wonga.

by Marcus Jervis