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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ P R E S E N T S │
│ │
│ │
│ + Virgin Steele - Visions Of Eden + │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.May-05-2014 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2006 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........11 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.virgin-steele.com ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Virgin Steele Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Visions Of Eden Label : T&T ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ For some Virgin Steele fans and critics alike, ║ │
│║ this is the point in their career where things ║ │
│║ went awry. If DeFeis didnÆt already hold the ║ │
│║ reigns of the band tightly enough to bring out ║ │
│║ the white in his knuckles, here heÆs grasping it ║ │
│║ with maniacal fervor, eschewing the more ║ │
│║ prominent heavy metal elements of the band in ║ │
│║ favor of pompous, story-driven, operatic fare. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Visions Of Eden is an impossibly deep album, ║ │
│║ from the intense self-contained narrative, to ║ │
│║ the strange production, and everything in ║ │
│║ between. The advent of the Atreus albums set ║ │
│║ Virgin Steele on a path of the grandiose, which ║ │
│║ seemingly spirals into the unknown. No bounds ║ │
│║ are yet known as to how far David DeFeis and co ║ │
│║ are willing to go in their mission of ║ │
│║ manipulating both the Virgin Steele sound and ║ │
│║ its genre. Visions Of Eden begins the bandÆs ║ │
│║ metamorphosis into a flabbergasted leviathan of ║ │
│║ melodrama, adorned with a tense, orchestral ║ │
│║ vacuum, enveloping electric guitars, drums, ║ │
│║ bass, and of course DeFeisÆ well broken-in piano ║ │
│║ work. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ For a metal album to be largely piano driven is, ║ │
│║ IÆm sure for many, a worrying thought, although ║ │
│║ I feel this approach has stood the test of time ║ │
│║ thus far as one of the albumÆs most endearing ║ │
│║ qualities. Whilst you easily can shrug off the ║ │
│║ thin guitars and synthetic drum sound, to deny ║ │
│║ the sheer scope and emotional quality of the ║ │
│║ piano and general orchestration would be short- ║ │
│║ sighted. If anything, Visions Of Eden is a ║ │
│║ highly passionate release, and one which David ║ │
│║ DeFeis has poured his every ounce into û of ║ │
│║ course the argument could be made, and valid, in ║ │
│║ saying this would work better as a DeFeis solo ║ │
│║ album. Speaking of him pouring everything he can ║ │
│║ into the album, his vocals are incredible. Much ║ │
│║ like the Atreus albums, he takes on multiple ║ │
│║ characteristics: with his performance switching ║ │
│║ between the lionÆs roar, castrati wailing, ║ │
│║ sullen whispering, and gracious mid-range heÆs ║ │
│║ famed for. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ As I hinted earlier, the narrative is deep and ║ │
│║ thought provoking. Drawing influence from ║ │
│║ biblical themes and ancient Sumerian myth, ║ │
│║ Visions Of Eden tells the story of AdamÆs first ║ │
│║ wife Lilith, and offers a unique glimpse in to ║ │
│║ how we might have arrived at where we are now. ║ │
│║ Depending on your belief system, I imagine the ║ │
│║ story can be taken in various ways, which is ║ │
│║ interesting. Of course, some might find it a ║ │
│║ little too over the top or not to their taste. ║ │
│║ It is admittedly domineering, and thick to ║ │
│║ swallow down at times, yet thoroughly stirring ║ │
│║ at others. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Now that weÆve talked about the more prominent ║ │
│║ aspects of the album, I think itÆs time to ║ │
│║ address the actual metal elements, which I can ║ │
│║ assure you are indeed present. Never are they ║ │
│║ more evident than in the proud opening track ║ │
│║ ôThe Birth Of Adamö. This one is most in check ║ │
│║ with their prior output, and despite the albumÆs ║ │
│║ thin production, is very much in the ôWings Of ║ │
│║ Vengeanceö mold. I will say the song is the only ║ │
│║ of its ilk here, although there are certainly ║ │
│║ distinct metal conventions displayed in the ║ │
│║ likes of the glorious title track, the punchy ║ │
│║ ôBonedustö, and the awe-inspiring ôAdorned With ║ │
│║ The Rising Cobraö. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ I do feel the ballad-like elements of the album ║ │
│║ weigh in heavier throughout, and as such will ║ │
│║ castrate any appeal for those looking for an ║ │
│║ answer to The Marriage Of Heaven & Hell Part I, ║ │
│║ or anyone looking for a propulsive heavy metal ║ │
│║ album for that matter. Visions Of Eden is very ║ │
│║ much concerned with itself, and should be ║ │
│║ listened to as a whole. ItÆs not the one IÆd ║ │
│║ recommend to those new to the band, but if ║ │
│║ youÆre interested in deep, meaningful music ║ │
│║ which will reward repeated listens, then IÆd ║ │
│║ seriously recommend this one. There arenÆt a lot ║ │
│║ of albums within the realms of heavy metal that ║ │
│║ can move me like this, or bands that can move me ║ │
│║ like Virgin Steele. Despite an increase in ego ║ │
│║ and pomposity I just canÆt deny this one, ║ │
│║ thereÆs nothing like it out there. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ David DeFeis - Vocals (1-11), Keyboards (1-11), ║ │
│║ Bass (1-11), Orchestration (1-11), Guitars ║ │
│║ (rhythm) ║ │
│║ (1-8, 10, 11), Guitars (lead) (2, 6, 7, 10, 11), ║ │
│║ Guitars ║ │
│║ (acoustic) (7, 10), Percussion (9), Gong (3, 6, ║ │
│║ 8] ║ │
│║ Joshua Block - Guitars (rhythm) (1-8, 10, 11), ║ │
│║ Guitars ║ │
│║ (lead) (9) ║ │
│║ Frank Gilchriest - Drums (1-11) ║ │
│║ Edward Pursino - Guitars (rhythm) (1, 3-5, 7-9), ║ │
│║ Guitars (lead) (1, 3-5, 7) ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Doreen DeFeis - Vocals (choirs) (6, 11) ║ │
│║ Jim Hooper - Vocals (choirs) (6, 11) ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - immortal i stand (the birth of adam) [06:34] │
│ 02 - adorned with the rising cobra [09:40] │
│ 03 - the ineffable name [07:50] │
│ 04 - black light on black [07:04] │
│ 05 - bonedust [06:12] │
│ 06 - angel of death [08:38] │
│ 07 - god above god [07:15] │
│ 08 - the hidden god [06:53] │
│ 09 - childslayer [05:25] │
│ 10 - when dusk fell [06:58] │
│ 11 - visions of eden [07:19] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [79:48 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│■ ■│
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