Edenbridge – Set The Dark On Fire
Release Date: 16th January 2026
Label: Steamhammer / SPV
Bandcamp
Genre: Symphonic Metal
FFO: EPICA, Stream of Passion, Xandria, Sirenia.
Review By: Mark Waight
Almost unbelievably, “Set the Dark on Fire” is the twelfth studio album release from symphonic metal maestros and veterans of the genre Edenbridge. Exploring new avenues without ever stepping too far away from their trademark sound, Edenbridge are perhaps a little bit heavier this time out but just as tight and solid musically as ever!
Edenbridge is Sabine Edelsbacher – Vocals, Lanvall – Lead & Rhythm Guitar, 6 & 12-String Acoustic Guitar, Piano & Keyboards, Hammered Dulcimer, Electric Sitar, Bouzouki, Ukulele, Swarmandal, Mandolin, Monochord, Tampura, Johannes Gral – Drums, Steve Hall – Bass and Sven Sevens – Lead Guitar.
Powerful opening track “The Ghostship Diaries” is heart thumpingly fast with potent choral vocals perfectly setting the scene and raising the curtains in style. Following on the heavier and more Gothically inspired, “Cosmic Embrace” is both disturbing and darkly uplifting as you are enveloped in its celestial grip.
Next up, “Where the Wild Things are” has a folkier and much more traditional air about it. The vocals are beautifully harmonious and together with an outstanding guitar medley form my personal favourite track.
Emotional and short instrumental passage “Tears of the Prophets” leads nicely into the heavenly “Our Place Among the Stars” with its pulsating hard rock riff and absolutely divine vocals.
Title track “Set the Dark on Fire” is a classic symphonic metal offering of cinematic proportions; it also serves as the perfect bedfellow to the superb “Bonded by the Light” which falls somewhere between a Lloyd Webber west end stage musical and a stirring (but not shaken) bond theme!
Conjuring up images of the sun slowly rising over the desert, instrumental “Divine Dawn Reveal” gently eases us into the illuminating Middle East meets metal infused “lighthouse” which truly offers a beacon of hope for all those who hold a candle for this genre.
At nearly 14 minutes long, “Spark of the Everflame” is a classical leaning four-part epic that well and truly puts the symphony in symphonic metal. It has absolutely everything, wonderful orchestrations, changes of pace and demeanour, moments of outstanding beauty matched by others of harrowing bleakness. Simply stunning!
“Set the Dark on Fire” will do just that, as Edenbridge are set to reignite our passion for symphonic metal once more with an album that confirms their seat at the top table. “Set the Dark on Fire” has both depth and width as it investigates and encompasses ever single corner of this genre with gusto. Edenbridge have simply discovered that winning formula, and time after time it assuredly allows their true class to shine through in absolutely everything they do! Recommended!
(4 / 5)
