Before 2021’s award winning album, The Unknown; Edge of Paradise, had released Universe, the band’s third album. It was released in2019. Edge of Paradise was formed in 2011, by Margarita Monet and Dave Bates in Los Angeles, California. The band has expanded to include drummer Jamie Moreno and bassist Justin Blair.
This band is my favorite band, now, with serious plans to tour the USA in 2022. So, keep watching them on social media, for updates. If you like music videos, like I do, this is your band. I don’t know any other band making as many as EoP, other than maybe newcomers Sparrohs. With the natural backdrops available to them in California, and Hollywood soundstages right around the corner, watch out! There will be more!
Yes, the videos are wonderful and express the power of the music being performed. But that is what this band is all about, the power of the music and the lyrics. Yes, they are metal rockers, but some of their music is very symphonic and progressive. It all revolves around the lead singer Margarita Monet. She not only writes many of the songs and lyrics, she is the main contact for the band. Yes, when you contact the band, there is a very good chance it is Margarita who responds…and quickly, as well. She loves her fans, immensely. This band is tuned into space, time and the future. They are creating music that is full of life and energy and this album is another great example.
So, as Emerson Lake and Palmer used to sing: “welcome back, my friends, to the show…that never ends”, let’s explore The Universe!
How do you capture an audience right from the first words and sounds? Use a beautiful soft voice, backed by classical piano to sing, “Fire, my hearts on fire. Nothing can stop me!” That is how the album opener, “Fire”, starts. It has a classical opening, which is influenced by classical pianist Margarita Monet. However, a lot of time has passed since she was a classical pianist, and this song quickly becomes a massive metal rocker, without hesitation. Later Margarita sings, “Someone put me on a spaceship to some mission. Blast me into space to a planet where I’m free!” Then, one of my favorite lines, “I say go! Go out and fight for what you want. Show everybody what you got!” That positive rocket of life she uses in all of her lyrics. You can overcome it all. Never surrender! Imagine opening a concert with anything else?
Well yes, but, “Electrify”, is even better! Margarita sings, “The rush of life. The rush of life inside me. Surging in my veins!” After those almost Japanese bass drums opened the song. Margarita takes over. I asked Margarita, during an interview to cover Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” on their next album. But, duh, they already have, kinda, here. Just listen to that excellent background sound, on the refrain, “Electrify, Kickstart my heart!”, it sounds a little like the strings section of “Kashmir”. This is easily one of my favorite Edge of Paradise songs. It is full of life, catchy and full of energy supreme. Worth the purchase price of the album alone. (But wait there is more). This may be even better than “False Idols” on The Unknown. The power, the thunder, the Kashmir strings, the energy, and the female voice of Thor singing “Ahhhh”. I hope they never stop playing this one live. This should be a concert opener. Can’t wait to see it live. “Tonight, I’ll win this fight!” For sure! (We need a new video for this masterpiece).
Then, they get groovy, with the title song, “Universe”. Margarita sings, “You are like a planet. Can I be your universe? Let our worlds collide”. Then, later, the refrain, “Take me to forever!” An almost disco beat set to a heavy metal mainstage. What a blend of music. “Stop the time”. Please I want this feeling to be here forever. Spacey sounds mixed to an electronic beat with metal bass, drums, and lead electric guitar soaring all over it. I triple dog dare you to try to categorize this song!
Grinding guitar and punching drums open “Alone”. A powerful beat, that Margarita’s soft voice takes the edge off immediately when she sings, “Take me far away”. “I know I’m flawed. I know I’m scared. But in my weakness, I am free!” “But through despair, I find my way, Alone!” Then a keyboard section, even Jordan Rudess would admire. Let the power and the spirit of her lyrics lift you up.
“Hollow”, opens with gnarly electric guitars, heavy drums and bass, before Margarita sings, “Let’s shake the world around us. Let’s break the mold inside us. Don’t be a hollow!”
Time is a centerpiece of everything this band does. It is an obsession for Margarita. And so “World”, begins with some wonderful lyrics, after a myriad of bells and clock noises, “When ashes fall into abyss. And we are left with just the truth on our hands. We try to escape. We try to forget. We try to deny. To save us regret. But with or without. Our mistakes. The world keeps on turning”. Then, even better lyrics, “We say I love you. We also point our guns. We aim at strangers. But strangers also love”. Wow, empathy from a metal band. Empathy we all need now more than ever. Later she sings, “No matter who you are. No matter how you live. No matter who you love. No matter how you pray. We are all slaves to time”. A world view to encompass them all. Amen.
“Perfect Disaster”, is a fun song for Margarita to enjoy every moment of her appeal. It also contains the band name, which makes this one unique. Margarita sings, “”I’m a believer. I’ll be your fever. I guess I’ll show you, to the edge of paradise”.
“Face of Fear”, has a spacey opening, before the whole band gallops onto the stage with power and force. Drums, orchestration, bass, and electric guitar. Then, Margarita sings, “I have nothing left to lose. Already felt defeat. Met many thieves, who stole my hope”. But don’t worry, “Hate, hate can’t break me. Pain, pain won’t take me. Hope, hope is near me! Fear won’t burry me. Life’s worth living for. Burn your demons. Rise, rise above it. Hate is the face of fear”. Get rid of hate and fear! But then she sings, “That’s where I want to be. Inside my dream. Where I belong. Fear is our deadly disease. Hate will bring us to our knees”. She concludes, “I say to hell with all our doubt!” Me too.
“Stars”, is a wonderful autobiographical song, where Margarita reveals a difficult past. But she sings, “I was this girl. And I know now. We can be free. Free to reach the stars!” Yes, indeed.
“Burn the Sun”, is a fantastic 3:12 minute instrumental track that lets the band aggressively fire up its ‘weapons”. Thank you for this closer.
While I have been searching for the perfect progressive metal bands all over Europe, these guys were; as Queensrÿche says, “building empire”, just down the Pacific Coast Highway in Los Angeles! This band has everything. Great music, deep, enchanting and inspirational lyrics, the best female metal singer in America, and a great sounding progressive metal sound. I just can’t wait for more and to finally meet these guys on the road this year. You won’t have to wait long. They just released a cover for the Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me”, with plans to release more videos for some of the tracks they haven’t yet, off The Unknown. I promise you friends, with Edge of Paradise, the show never ends!
Track List
- Fire – 4:06
- Electrify – 3:01
- Universe – 4:03
- Alone – 3:58
- Hollow – 3:16
- World – 3:31
- Perfect Disaster – 3:20
- Face of Fear – 4:03
- Stars – 3:39
- Burn the Sun – 3:12