Sweden’s Persuader is keeping up a nice track record. After
the brilliant Evolution Purgatory, which came out of nowhere a year ago
and smashed my face in, comes When Eden Burns, a brilliant refinement
of the band’s sound and earlier work.
The opener Twisted Eyes chugs with mighty riffing and a thundering
beat alternating from thrashing to basic rock. Thrash is also an element that
has been multiplying in singer Jens Carlssons awesome voice. While he still
occasionally is a dead ringer for Hansi Kursch, he is really beginning to find
his own voice with the added harsher stylings. Even occasional screeches that
would be right at home on a death metal record come out of his pipes.
The song material is a myriad of mixtures from different metal genres. The
opener and Slaves Of Labour possess insanely melodic guitar lines that
lodge themselves firmly in your head. Gang shouts and choirs layer the catchy
choruses all over the album for that power metal feel. Many riffs go into thrash
and a few times border black metal. Blastbeats pepper the grand, mid tempo magnificence
of the title track. Judas Immortal bursts through the thickest of walls
with a manic speed metal gear and then breaks into an acoustic flamenco solo
in the middle. The song also has a fabulous chorus – who woulda thunk
it? Doomsday News is a marvellous slice of traditional metal locked
in pure Maiden-mode, with just a little more double bass and
piano. The jagged, groovy riffs in the bridge slay! Zion, a better-than-your-average-instrumental
is about the only mediocre song in here.
The production is very good and balanced, albeit a bit raw. Then again, the
music has gone more aggressive from EP, so it suits the material. I
still would have liked a bit more kick in the bass drums, as they just slightly
get buried in the mix in the most frantic parts.
All in all, Persuader beautifully manages to float well above the large grey
mass that litters this type of music that the followers of Blind Guardian
and Helloween churn out. I like the gruffer direction a lot
and hope that the boys will bring even a bit more death and thrash onto the
next album. ‘Till then, Eden will burn with a gigantic flame.