Review Summary: Blackened gothgaze metal.
The sound of Edenfall’s debut is old school gothic metal. Early Tristania and Draconian vibes are introduced and never let go. This is no copycat band, though an ode to the past. Okay, so the final track is the best Draconian copy I’ve ever heard - beautiful and vast - but Edenfall otherwise cut their own piece from the gothic pie. Similar to Crimfall, there is much more black metal than doom metal within To Gaze Longer at the Earth. Where other bands may turn away listeners from plodding beats, there’s barely any drag in this debut. Each section brings a new ambient section or rhythmic push to continue building tracks. In conjunction with piercing, wintery harsh vocals and monastery type vocals, the epic, grim sound is inescapable.
While the choruses are very repetitive, they remain intriguing. The lead singer has an operatically inspired sound similar to Tarja Turunen, and stretches their voice. Delicately crafted and plentiful high, lengthy notes fill the air in a somber collage. Through long passages the band show off their uniqueness as though sung in a tunnel. Gorgeous melodies persist, yet cavernous black metal vocals bring tension to an otherwise serene setting. Beauty and the beast vocals are very much the motif, and the tactic is effective. Between both vocalists it’s difficult to pick a favourite; the air is acutely drenched with their presences.
A while back, this may have been considered an average release; potentially, anyway. Nowadays, however, not enough bands evoke the vibe of old school gothic metal. While not a lost art, it’s encouraging when a new torchbearer materializes. Life may have proceeded past this sound into much more mainstream territory, but there are cult goth bands left for old heads. This album is perfect in almost every way aside from some obscured lyrics. This is an album to soak in: one for fully vibing with the intended energy. It is music that becomes a part of you, and ultimately consumes you. Now the album gazes at you from within. Will you answer its ghostly call?
