Album Review: Edenbridge - Set The Dark On Fire (2026, Steamhammer / SPV)

Written: 1st January 2026

It seems incredible that, in just two years time, Edenbridge will be celebrating thirty years since their formation in 1998. Since the release of their first album, Sunrise In Eden in 2000, the band have carved a niche in the world of metal with their distinctive blend of melody and symphony. Having regularly released albums every two or three years, Set The Dark On Fire is the band’s twelfth full length album and they show no signs of slowing down; quite the contrary according to multi-instrumentalist Lanvall. "With Set The Dark On Fire, we remain absolutely true to our style, but – in collaboration with our long-time mixing and mastering engineer Karl Groom - have tweaked some important parameters in the guitar/bass/drums area. The result is our most energetic and heaviest album to date. At the same time, Karl, as usual, ensures a crystal-clear mix that transparently showcases every detail."

Set The Dark On Fire begins with the upbeat The Ghostship Diaries. Driving guitar riffs, soaring symphonics and energetic percussion set the scene that will follow for much of the album. The Ghostship Diaries moves from throbbing melodic to doom-tinged conclusion via an opulent guitar solo. It is a compelling introductory track, elements of which are furthered on second track Cosmic Embrace. Edenbridge ramp up the tempo for much of this track and an imposing central orchestral section backs up Lanvall’s claim that the album contains some of their heaviest material. Lyrically, it evokes a journey of spiritual awakening and transformation, blending cosmic imagery with themes of liberation and unity. Mysterious is the gate to heaven / Choose and find is the way divine / We descry the flamboyant jewel / The masterful design. Astral and aureate, Cosmic Embrace has, like many Edenbridge compositions, a memorable chorus - the use of symphonic, orchestral and occasional power metal flourishes all adding interesting ingredients to the overall sound.

Where The Wild Things Are leans more into Celtic territories and occasionally the more pastoral guitar gives hints of Mike Oldfield. It explores the concept of the earth as a living being, manifested in the primal feminine power of the character Aleen. Vocalist Sabine Edelsbacher comments, “Aleen embodies a true connection with the elements and thus with the natural power of the earth. Routine is not her thing. She lives a seductive vitality that is unparalleled. May more and more people recognize and express this power within themselves.” Acoustic segments and Lanvall's use of hammered dulcimer add depth and subtle nuance amongst the more bombastic elements and another hummable chorus gives listeners a biting hook to enjoy.

With the first three songs all bringing a similar but well executed atmosphere to Set The Dark On Fire, the short, introspective instrumental Tears of the Prophets and following track Our Place Among The Stars are perfectly positioned to give listeners an opportunity to take a breath. Our Place Among The Stars, while having a heavier and stomping feel to the riffs, manages to still ooze with melody and grace. This deliberately slowing and inexorable movement of tempo mirrors the lyrics which explore the one thing we cannot control: the relentless flow of existence. We are in perpetual motion / On a tapestry of time. A lambently resplendent guitar solo ends the song in majestic fashion and Edelsbacher shows she is as equally at home with the palatial leaning of Our Place Among The Stars as she is with the fiery heart of songs such as Cosmic Embrace.

Title track and previously released single Set The Dark On Fire is among the fastest songs the band have ever released, bassist Steve Hall and drummer Johannes Gral combining in a blaze of rhythm. The song champions liberation from chaos, awakening inner strength leading to renewal, clarity and empowered self-realisation. You put off the evil hour while the hunt is on / Don't realize you are in dire straits / Lost beyond recall, the voice of reason has gone / But the game is up, a brand new dawn elates. Keyboards rise and fall rapidly and there are undeniable power metal moments scattered throughout. It stands as a strong representation of Edenbridge’s established style, executed with precision and vigour. It does not offer too much in terms of innovation, though its drive certainly maintains the album’s momentum effectively.

Bonded By The Light, however, offers something quite different. Within a few seconds of the track starting, listeners will wonder if they are hearing a new contender for the next James Bond theme tune. There can be absolutely no doubt that this is the aura that Edenbridge were trying to conjure here. Upon first listening, as the chorus began, I was almost expecting Edelsbacher to sing the lyrics to Adele’s Skyfall. Bonded By The Light opens with a similar slow piano based verse and swells as the chorus approaches; there are even Bond style brass motifs before the second verse begins and a final chord at the end of the track that pays homage to the 007 soundtracks of the past. Edenbridge are no strangers to Bond having covered For Your Eyes Only in 2006. It is fun to hear the band fully embrace the style and it does bring a layer of suave sophistication to the album that makes the overall experience feel a little more unpredictable. This variety continues on short instrumental Divine Dawn Reveal and the subsequent Lighthouse, both of which draw on Middle Eastern sounds to complement the band’s own. The latter of these two tracks delivers some of the chunkiest riffs on the album and also one of the slowest central passages, complete with melancholic guitar solo.

All of what has come before is thrown into the pot for the final track: the four-part thirteen minute epic Spark of the Everflame. Lanvall states, "I love working on these epic long tracks - with recurring motifs, dynamic changes, and complex modulations. While shorter songs require a quick get-to-the-point approach, here I can give themes space and time to unfold." The one minute long Let Time Begin serves as an overture, grandiose and triumphant in style. The Winding Road to Evermore has  – in the context of this album at least –  some seriously heavy riffs; these are interspersed with rapid fire solos and stentorian brass. Linking instrumental Per Aspera Ad Astra – a title which instantly made me think of the closing section on the second disc of Nightwish’s Human: Nature – is dramatic and numinous and leads us towards the final part of Spark of the Everflame: Where It Ends, Is Where It Starts. It is a suitably shimmering and sonorous conclusion to the album. Spark of the Everflame encapsulates the album’s essence in one sweeping statement, merging grandeur, intensity and introspection into a finale that feels both conclusive and infinitely cyclical.

While inevitably Edenbridge draw comparisons with Nightwish and Kamelot, the commanding confidence and radiant colours within the songwriting gives them their own character. Lanvall's thoughtful use of hammered dulcimer, sitar, bouzouki and ukelele also help them to stand apart from bands of a similar nature. Additionally, he certainly knows how to write captivating and catchy hooks and to dismiss them as superficial would be a serious misjudgement - their depth and artistry elevate them far beyond the realm of disposable gloss. While the instrumental sections of album are enthralling, vocalist Sabine Edelsbacher proves time and time again why she is so important to the band. From her crystalline clarity in the gentlest passages to her commanding presence in the boldest sections, she remains the defining voice that unites Edenbridge’s musical vision.

Edenbridge have never been a band to chase trends and Set The Dark On Fire reaffirms that conviction. As Lanvall noted, they remain true to their own style, choosing refinement over reinvention, a decision that speaks of their enduring confidence. The promised weight is evident, with heavier riffs and more assertive passages adding grit without compromising the melodic and symphonic core that defines them. As a strong entry in the band’s extensive discography, it will certainly satisfy long-time fans, although it is unlikely to convert those who have not been swayed by previous releases. Set The Dark On Fire finds Edenbridge at their most assured, blending power and elegance into a bold statement of identity.

Set The Dark On Fire is released on 16th January 2026.

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