Rough Edge: Lost Eden CD Reviews

LOST EDEN

"Cycle Repeats" (Candlelight; 2007)

The melo-death sound has been around for quite some time – and I’ve reported in previous reviews that the style has been flirting with staleness and potentially irrelevance. The genre’s Scandinavian heavyweights (In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Soilwork) and the American newcomers in a slightly different off-shoot style (Trivium, Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, etc) have pushed their own boundaries artistically and have stayed commercially relevant.

Lost Eden, hailing from Japan, present a slightly electronic and industrial-tinged edge to the classic melo-death sound on their full-length debut “Cycle Repeats.” After a string of compilation appearances, “Cycle Repeats” plays out like a confident band almost hitting their stride.

“Cycle Repeats” features ten tracks of charged melo-death with eight songs and two instrumentals. Crisp and to the point, “Cycle Repeats” features all the hallmarks of traditional melo-death as well as the best elements of the new wave of American metal. Most of the songs on “Cycle Repeats” are instantly likeable – think mid-era In Flames combined with Trivium’s recent output and you get a sense of Lost Eden’s sound and style. However, I hear a band that needs to stretch their sound some more and seek out their true identity – given the fact that it is early in the band’s career they’ll have an opportunity to work this out with good results.

As a full-length debut “Cycle Repeats” demonstrates Lost Eden to be competent and full of potential. Lost Eden won’t be confused with Japan’s other latest musical import to take center-stage on the metal scene (Dir en Grey), but appear to be well-positioned to make a name for themselves over time.

“Cycle Repeats” was recorded at Japan’s famed Splash Studios.

Lost Eden: Norio on vocals, Hiroshi Adachi on guitars and electronics, Run on guitars, Daisuke on bass, and Mako on drums.

For more information visit http://www.lost-eden.com.

"Cycle Repeats" (Candlelight; 2007)

Reviewed by Mike SOS

Shining in the role of Japan's answer to bands such as Shadows Fall and Soilwork, the quintet known as Lost Eden reveal impressive chops and bone crushing riffs on "Cycle Repeats."

This 10-track affair's crisp production captures the band's vast repertoire, highlighting the throat-ripping screams on "Before Burning to Ashes" to the acoustic serenity of "Sandglass" with stark beauty and savage grace.

Technically sound yet righteously edgy, "Cycle Repeats" is a solid metalcore disc that fans of All That Remains, Bullet for My Valentine, and Bleeding Through can gnaw on.

Lost Eden: Norio on vocals, Hiroshi Adachi on guitars and electronics, Run on guitars, Daisuke on bass, and Mako on drums.

For more information visit http://www.lost-eden.com.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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