Edenbridge are a symphonic metal band, founded in 1998 in Austria. The band has released nine studio albums and the most recent one, “The Great Momentum”, was released last February, the 17th. We talked to Edenbridge’s founding member Lanvall and he told us all about their brand new album and the ongoing tour.
M.I. - Well, guys, first of all, congratulations on your new album “The Great Momentum”, I have some questions regarding your most recent release, but, first, I have to ask: it has been about four years since you released “The Bonding”; what happened in the meantime?
Right after our last studio album “The Bonding”, I wanted to do something different musically. In 2010, Sabine and I played a short acoustic showcase in Hanoi (Vietnam), just piano and vocals. This was really inspiring, so we founded VOICIANO, the acoustic project. Only acoustic instruments were allowed to use, so, no drums, no electric guitars and no keyboards. I recorded most of the piano parts live, without click tracks and then everything else followed. In 2014, we released our first album “Everflow”. After that, I had the idea to do a History DVD about the first 15 years of our career. In the end, I sat over 1 year in the cutting room and what came out was a 9 hours documentary on 6 DVD´s called “A Decade And A Half...The History So far”. In Spring 2015, I immediately started writing the new studio album “The Great Momentum”, which also took me one year in the writing and arranging process. And, apart from that, I have been composing for a big Austrian TV documentary since 2014, called “Above Austria”, where Austria is shown from a helicopter perspective. This is a project that is planned till 2020! So you see, I didn't get bored in all those years between our 2 studio albums.
M.I. - How would you characterize the creative process of this new album, which were the main influences and, from your point of view, how does “The Great Momentum” stand out from your other albums?
It took me one year of writing and arranging. In June, we recorded the drums and, after that, I spent the whole summer recording in my own studio. It was a very relaxing process this time and I had lots of fun. After a 3 week holiday break, I went to England to meet with Karl Groom (Threshold) for the mix, which was a great process again. This is the 5th album we have worked on together now and his collaboration is always awesome. Finally Mika Jussila put the finishing touches on the album, by mastering the album at Finnvox. This time, we also used a different rhythm guitar sound, which means another amp, which supports our seven string guitars a lot better. When you have a huge orchestra, huge choirs, it’s like they are all fighting against each other, in terms of frequencies. Therefore, now everything is a lot clearer and heavier. Sabine also sounds extremely powerful in the new album. Just have a listen to the verses of “Return to Grace”, she’s simply amazing! I think it is important to develop as a composer and musician, as well as you have to, as a human being. Making one step further with every new album, exploring new territories, trying new things, I think this is what music should be all about. Therefore, I believe that “The Great Momentum” is our best work so far.
M.I. - “The Bonding” was a success amongst the fans; in your opinion, which was the most difficult moment that you faced while trying to top that album – and, also, all of your other previous albums –, while you were writing “The Great Momentum”?
The most difficult moment was the same I faced when I finished “The Bonding” and it is the same feeling I have right now, after “The Great Momentum”. How the hell can I top this album? The magic answer is “time”. I always need to have a break between albums to recharge all batteries and get brand new ideas. The ideas often come to me when I am all alone.
M.I. - Is there a track that is more meaningful to you, a song that is a little more “personal” to you, so to speak?
The long tracks always have a special meaning for me, as they are showing what the band stands for. “The Greatest Gift Of All”, for me, is “music” and therefore it is a tribute to music, lyrically. From the smoothest, mellowest parts, to the orchestral blast beat inferno; you find nearly everything in those 12 minutes.
M.I. - The album title is, as we know, “The Great Momentum”, but why did you decide to call your ninth album “The Great Momentum” and not anything else, what’s the story behind it?
“The Great Momentum” is a very powerful title, therefore it needed an equivalent artwork. “The Great Momentum” is the “timeless, absolute NOW”. People often tend to live in the future or in the past and forget about “this very moment”, where life is happening. The stone lady, in her meditation pose and the energy flowing through her body, reflects this very well.
M.I. - “The Great Momentum” tour has been going on for a few months now; how have the fans been responding so far?
Wonderful, although we have only played 4 shows so far. Two, on the famous “70000Tons of Metal Festival” and two others in our home country, Austria.
M.I. - To those who haven’t seen you perform live yet, what can the fans expect from this tour?
A great setlist, focusing on the last 3 albums and a lot of passion on stage.
M.I. - Even though we are still in the beginning of the tour, we can assure your fans that this will not be the ultimate Edenbridge tour, right? Can you already foresee any new albums, or is it too soon to be talking about “the next step”?
This is far too early to speak. A new album will not be out before 2019, that’s for sure.
M.I. - Well, still on “the next step”, it is said that an artist is never fully pleased, so, tell me: it has been almost twenty years since Edenbridge was formed; what do you feel you still have left to achieve as musicians and, of course, as part of Edenbridge?
As I said before, there are always aims ahead, as no album will ever be “the perfect one”. So, there is always, at least, the goal to achieve perfection. This is what drives me to be a musician and a composer: finding the next ultimate melody, riff and chord structure!
M.I. - Finally, I must ask, considering, precisely, the fact that you guys have been around since 1998: so far, which were the greatest obstacles that you had to face and which were your greatest achievements?
We are still able to make the music that we want without compromises and we have a solid, wonderful fan base all around the world. We have played numerous tours in Europe, Russia, Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and now America. So, I would say we have done a lot of things right. On the other hand, considering that we never looked left and right, on what might be “the next big thing” and straightened our way, choosing, in contrast, the road less traveled, we sometimes made it harder for us, but this is the only way to survive in the long run!
Questions by Evie
