Melbourne classic heavy metal band Back To Eden, the solo project of Guitarist/Bassist/Songwriter Edan Hoy dropped their debut EP “Blackened Heart” in 2018 and it’s a solid effort for it’s first release. For fans of melodic rock and early heavy metal, this may be worth checking out.
Upfront on opening track “Temptation“, the vocals is what comes through front and center. With a voice reminiscent of Myles Kennedy, the music merely compliments the singing with some serious chugging riffs that grooves with the mid-tempo pace. There’s an old school rock vibe coming through here but it’s mixed well with a more modern sound that’s got a bit of a punch to it.
Things switch over to classic heavy metal as Judas Priest meets early Motley Crue in “Twin Flame“, double kicks working in tandem with a relenting main riff that drives the song all the way home. Old school fans will sink their teeth into this one but for those that want more of that heavier, modern sound then look no further than “Illusion” where the Alter Bridge feel in both the vocals and the rhythmic music work together into a melodic rocker.
The title track brings things down a few notches as the obligitory ballad / mellow track kicks in and while there’s not a whole lot to fault here, there’s also nothing that stands out either. The band make up for it in the closing track “Devil In Disguise” which is the heaviest on offer here, bursts of energy in the form of a wave of guitar riffs and splatterings of solos filling this highlight reel of a track to the brim. Certainly a great way to end things and keep that momentum for the listener to come back to the EP again and again.
TRACKLIST
Temptation
Twin Flame
Illusion
Blackened Heart
Devil In Disguise
