Virgin Steele
Visions Of Eden

THE REVIEW

It is groups like Virgin Steele that have worked in the "musical underground" to give the heavy metal genre a new branch, that, thanks also to other bands like Manilla Road, Cirith Ungol, and Omen, have contributed to creating epic metal. Raw in the case of the three groups mentioned above, velvety, romantic, and more symphonic in the case of Virgin Steele, whose musical offering has always been reminiscent of bands like Warlord and Manowar.

The band's path had already changed years ago with the two "The House of Atreus," where part of the heavy metal charge was set aside in favor of more atmospheric and orchestral elements. These elements return promptly in this "Visions of Eden," the eleventh album, conceived as a hypothetical soundtrack and entirely thought up by the band's leader, David DeFeis. It is precisely his ideas that make this CD a fusion between metal and orchestral and piano sections of sure impact.

As soon as the opening track "Immortal I Stand" begins, one notices the almost absence of guitars. DeFeis and his favorite instrument, the piano, take over. Complex vocal lines rest on a backdrop created by the piano and drums. A choice that surprises but aligns with what the band had already suggested before. A song that still manages to hit the mark thanks to DeFeis's warm voice. The same script in the subsequent "Adorned with the Rising Cobra": not very incisive on the instrumental level but manages at least to improve with the singer's vocalizations. The entire album is thus played out: long songs and orchestrations that overshadow just about everything.

Pursino's powerful guitar manages to find openings in "Bonedust" and "Childslayer". Two tracks that relive the band's old glories, which chose to articulate their proposal by moving away from their origins. A complicated choice that led Virgin Steele to six years of decisions and reversals. Six years in which "Visions of Eden" was conceived, bringing with it the criticism of old fans and positive reviews from those who only became aware of this group thanks to this work.

A varied but still valuable work. It does not reach the epic heights of masterpieces like the two Marriage or "Noble Savage" but this album still manages to excite. It is certainly true that the contribution of the guitars is missing, but the emotional charge of DeFeis and the choice to create an orchestral background have generated fascinating and delicate compositions. The ballads "God Above God" and the title track are the full testimony of this.

What "Visions of Eden" lacks is aggression. From the guitar, deliberately placed in the background to DeFeis's vocals: impeccable, to be sure, but far from the explosive force of the past years. It thus becomes normal to listen to songs like "Angel of Death", long and atmospheric.

For all the reasons mentioned above, "Visions of Eden" cannot be fully considered a metal album, but rather as an orchestral work, pompous with some power/heavy inserts here and there. The stylistic approach of Virgin Steele is to be appreciated, as they still want to experiment with new paths. However, the result is not the best and it clearly loses any comparison with the past.

1. "Immortal I Stand" (6:33)
2. "Adorned With The Rising Cobra" (9:40)
3. "The Ineffable Name" (7:48)
4. "Black Light On Black" (7:03)
5. "Bonedust" (6:10)
6. "Angel Of Death" (8:37)
7. "God Above God" (7:13)
8. "The Hidden God" (6:51)
9. "Childslayer" (5:22)
10. "When Dusk Fell" (6:57)
11. "Visions Of Eden" (7:16)