Edge of Paradise, will soon release their 5th full-length album, and 7th overall if you count the two EPs they have released, in July. The new album is titled, Hologram, and it will be more than just a music album. It will include a graphic novel and comic book. The story revolves around an outer space adventure, featuring the band, who travel to the planet to recover a priceless artifact from the race of people who occupy that planet, the Faceless, and have been known to have taken the artifact.
Edge of Paradise is one of my favorite bands, and their last album, The Unknown, was my favorite album of 2021. It also achieved global critical acclaim, following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Universe, from 2019. In some ways, Hologram, may be a part of a trilogy involving the last two albums. Hoping to interview Margarita Monet to confirm or deny that assertion.
Edge of Paradise is made up of members: Margarita Monet, who sings lead vocals and plays multiple keyboards; Dave Bates, on lead electric and acoustic guitars; David Ruiz, on rhythm guitar, Kenny Lockwood, on bass; and Jamie Moreno, on drums.
The story of Hologram, begins with a “bunch of smugglers, scavengers, and mercenaries who are commissioned by an extraordinarily wealthy alien race, from another planet, to track down a priceless artifact from The Faceless people”.
‘Hologram”, is the album opener, and it is a devastatingly awesome, little over 4-minute, lift-off adventure. It opens with very cool space keyboards and atmospherics. Margarita sings, “Light years away. We saw a mirage. Landed in the night. Through petrified skies. Felt the shock of the speed of sound. Wind ravaged with shards of glass”; with power electric guitars, heavy bass, and drums, supporting her. Then, she echoes the anticipated fear of the Faceless People, “Rain of Terror!”. But Margarita and her team have been around space for years and, as the main character; Margarita, is a world-renowned intergalactic archeologist and explorer. So, she responds well to the Faceless, “We are never backing down, Cause we’re holograms, hollow holograms!” A confidence oozing, confrontational opener, and power driver, full of adventure.
“This is Personal”, indeed! Margarita is on a mission, and is not about to be stopped. She sings, “You look at me and think I’m fragile. Come closer, feel my iron core! You think you’ll talk to me and sway my mind. I’m ahead of you. Because inside you’re blind!” This song runs even faster than the first, in its beginning; with dynamic, electric lead guitar and drums. Then, it slows down as Margarita begins to dictate the terms, “Cause this is personal!” She is absolutely taking this seriously, and so is the grinding and driving electric guitar and cool spacey keys. One of the best songs I have heard from this band, since “False Idols”, off The Unknown. It is one of the album’s best tracks, for sure.
“Soldiers of Danger”, opens with very cool orchestration and keys, with drums pounding and electric guitars roaring. Margarita sings, “Even Horizon, Let our dreams ascend. Fueled by the spirits. I’ll be your soldier. Soldier of danger”. Over 4-minutes of dramatic, theatrical and emotional lyrics and music.
“The Faceless”, is the first song to confront the “enemy”, the absolutely brutal, territorial savages and deeply feared, enemies, the Faceless; due to their lethal skills in combat. Margarita sings, “To take my power back. I must become nameless. To hear the silence. I must become faceless!” The electric guitar playing and symphonic atmospherics are otherworldly indeed. Margarita brings back the memory of one of the best songs off The Unknown, with these lyrics, “Your debt must be repaid. “False idols”. It is your time to retreat! I find myself in the unknown. Free to reinvent. But never forget”. Reminiscent lyrics bringing back the feelings from The Unknown.
“Dark”, is the longest track on the album, at just over 5-minutes. Margarita sings, “We hurt together. I want to feel it with you. Don’t wonder in the darkness. Bring me to your dejavu. I want to be your compass. Share the sadness in your eyes. Make me your vessel. Find forgotten skies”. A cool trick that Margarita uses to almost mind-meld with the enemy, in order to understand and maybe control them better. The keyboards, atmospherics, guitar, and drums are excellent.
On “Unbeatable”, Margarita sings, “I woke up to a changing tide. I breathe in the heavy smoke. Of torment and doubt. You can try and break me down. I carry many scars. Go and break me down. I’m unbeatable”. Dave’s excellent electric guitar solo is one of the best on the album. Over 3-minutes of thrusting metal rock!
“Another Life”, is the most powerful song on the album. The opening electric guitar solo and the surrounding keyboards are amazing. Margarita sings, “I’m standing at the cross roads. On the night of the lost souls. I feel frozen in time. Release me from myself. I want you to take me. Into another life. Let me fall into your skies”. She wants to become like the Faceless. Over 5 minutes of powerful lyrics and expert orchestration, with excellently placed electric guitar soloing, heavy bass, and pumping drums.
The “Basilisk”, is a very dangerous, Medusa-like creature that forms out of the Hologram. Margarita gets completely into character, as she sings, “You could say that I’m a villain. As deadly as a serpents’ kiss. And if you breathe in my scent. It could leave you in torment. Hear my whispers. Slither in your head”. This formidable warrior is well created during this over 3-minute track, that is filled with great electric guitar, bass, and pounding drums. Margaritta sings, “Look into my eyes. I’ll make you feel alive”.
“Don’t Give Up On Me”, sounds like it would fit well on The Unknown. It has a similar beat and harmony. Margarita sings, “Don’t give up on me. And when we’re worlds apart. And when you’re in the dark. I’ll never. I’ll never. I won’t give up on you. I’ll never know. I don’t even know you. But I know your soul”.
“One More Time”, is the final epic closer. Margarita sings, “If I could see you one more time. If I could hear you one more time. I’d try to make you smile. I’ll never, never let you go!” A close to four-minute power-driver, hell-bent on reaching out to everyone and letting them know that she and the band care, deeply.
“Another Life – (Piano/Version)” is an over 4-minute piano version of the original track. Margarita sings the lyrics accompanied with piano and orchestration. It is a beautiful gift. Thank you for this precious extra version.
I really am impressed when a band tries to create and capture a story which they really believe in. I think Margarita has been trying to create a huge story like this for a long while. Mission accomplished!
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