Reviews: Eden Maine - The Treachery Pact
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Raw Nerve (http://www.rawnervepromotions.co.uk)
A highly anticipated appearance into my CD player after hearing the immense "Ephemera" track. Within the first minute already I hear why I've been waiting for this.
A long guitar driven intro, some fine touches on drums and the composition, all in all a great build up. Certainly, as well after having a horrible day and listening to ambient music for an hour, this is the perfect way to continue, bringing the senses round with a nice 3 minute instrumental piece which leads into the chaotic "Cold Light", the rejuvenation process is complete.
Lending more than a few hints of influence from Dillinger Escape Plan, Will Haven (off the first EP), the intensities of Kiss It Goodbye, certainly having the power of Eighteen Visions and Converge and throwing in some occasional singy vocals that are akin to Mike Patton and Karl of Earthtone 9. This guy's harsh vocal is totally immense, without sounding strained. Throw in some genius touches with the weird timings and chugs and Eden Maine fully prove in this one track, as they do in every track, what a great band and hope for the future they are.
One thing about these guys is also the sheer great songs and catchiness they produce amongst all the ferocity, every song has a memorable hook to it. This band are a technical musicians dream, some immense quality is shown in the drumming fills, touches here and there and ridiculously tight, making full use of the opportunity to hit things and fill out the sound properly.
A disturbingly dark, whispered intro to "The Black" is genuinely scary, totally altering the upbeat, intense but 'happy' mood created from the first three songs. This definitely shows Kiss It Goodbye and Deadguy, Ire and Isis influences and is a strongly emotive and sinister piece, Which leads us onto the pure and evil pandemonium of "Scene One", one of the heaviest most intense songs I've ever heard in a long time, had those monstrous overtones of Eighteen Visions, older Canvas, Meshuggah and Eden Maine!
A lot of this CD is definitely unique and should see Eden Maine receiving praise for originality as well as extremity. Fully deserved accolades.
Darren Sadler at Rock Sound Magazine
Slowly and steadfastly Eden Maine have been honing their craft and building a nice little following on the underground circuit. Now, finally, they"ve laid some tunes down, using the production skills of Kurt "Converge" Ballou and it's a cool debut effort. There is a consistent urgency and an abrasive attitude that conveys throughout, reflected on tracks like "Cold Light" and 'scene One", which are frantic masses of riffs, pounding drums and harsh vocal melodies. Elsewhere 'the Black" is as dark as its title suggests. So if you like your underground hardcore, metalcore and mayhem, then Eden Maine are most definitely a band worthy of your attention. The fact that they flew over Kurt Ballou at their own expense and got renowned artist Puddnhead to design their artwork, just goes to show the efforts this UK band have made. Hard graft pays off and this should help Eden Maine keep pushing forward.
Eddie Johnson at Rock UK (http://www.rockuk.ctint.co.uk)
Virtually unknown to most people, but cherished by a number of people who are part of the underground hardcore scene. Eden Maine are certainly a band beginning to makes waves in their own scene as well as on a broader scale (having recently received good reviews from major music magazines and placed on a certain magazines sampler CD). Being compared to Bands like Botch, Poison the well and converge (whose guitarist Kurt Ballou actually produced the EP), Eden Maine really have a heavy weight on their shoulders, but can this release live up to the expectations placed upon it? Beginning with a intro named "A road that leads to fate", you are hit with surprise, yes this song is quite heavy, but it's a lot more reminiscent of what At the drive IN would be like if they cranked up the distortion. Mixing both emo and metal sensibilities this song is a very nice refreshing instrumental. I'm often sceptical about bands putting instrumental in EP's because most of the time they spoil the run of the album and just seem like an 'this EP needs to be longer, lets stick an instrumental in" job, but this one really does work quite well and builds up the anticipation of the EP. Next song "Cold Light" is just fucking fierce, starting with a serene guitar intro, it suddenly transforms into very fast pounding drums, ambient yet heavy as fuck guitars and some of the most pissed off Vocals I have heard from a British band in ages. Sounding like a more catchy Converge (seriously it is as catchy as hell), this song really sets the standard for the rest of the EP to follow. A song full of opposite, mixing pissed off screeching screams with peaceful brooding singing in the chorus, mixing twinkly 'space/star like" guitars with heavy, downtuned riffage, this song has mixed so many influences and genres and produced an overall great song. One of the best metal songs I've heard by any band this year. Ephemera starts off with the once again pounding drums and distorted guitar riffs. Mixing the now trademark screaming with brooding mellow singing, this song certainly is quite similar to the "Cold Light", but in comparison it's miles behind. It's not a bad song at all, but being placed straight after probably the strongest track on the CD makes it seem poor and out of honesty it just bores me. Playing on similar traits as the previous song it becomes predictable, and as many people know Hardcore music should never become predictable, that's the beauty behind this genre. Not a bad song, just compared to the rest of this EP, it's below the set standard. The Black starts off in quite a mellow fashion, using a slow bass line, atmospheric machine like noises faintly in the background gradually getting louder and the whispering vocals, this song is certainly the more experimental track on this EP, once the drums begin the overall song becomes quite a moody affair, the brooding vocals are still there, but in the background there are very distorted vocals (very much like Converge) which gradually seep out to form the chorus with heavy palm muted riffs. This pattern carry's on throughout the song until after the second chorus where we are introduced to the break, mixing delicate beautiful guitar riffs with the distorted vocals and extremely powerful drums, it once again transcends genres (well to a certain extent). The pattern changes again to bring a brief guitar/drum solo, but once again, changing again into a heavy as fuck song, being just under 7 minutes long, this song is really a mammoth example of how good the emo and metal genre can be when mixed together correctly. And without a seconds notice, we are brought into what I consider the heaviest track on the EP 'scene One"(which is good considering the whole EP is heavy as hell). With 2 tempos being mixed together (slow one minute very fast the next), it does give the listener a feeling of not knowing what's going to happen next. Once the chorus comes in you're met with lovely emotional vocals, yet still very heavy; this song doesn't stop for anything. Lasting a total time of around 6 ½ minutes, the main complaint I have for this song is once again towards the end it does become predictable and rather song, but still what a fucking way to finish the EP. So overall the Eden Maine EP is one of the best metal releases I have heard all year, but I'm not sure if many people will agree with me. Personally I love my bands that play heavy as hell, cut throat metal, but as the music industry goes not many people feel the same. If you like bands who define genres and like to take their metal to a new level (like Converge, early Cave in, Dillinger Escape plan or the UK's own Beecher), then this release is certainly for you.
Stand out tracks: Cold Light, The Black, Scene One
Rating: 8/10
Jason Schreurs at Suburban Voice
Yes, this UK band have got an unhealthy obsession with the North American metalcore scene. They specifically flew Kurt Ballou (Converge, et al) over to produce this EP and hired the same artist that did that tacky cover art on the last Grade record. Despite their doe-eyed glances in our direction, these five songs smoke most of the annoying Western metalcore pests out of their hives. Eden Maine use impressive vocals, tech drumming, wall of sound guitars and some tasty bass work to nail an original, heart-pounding version of an exhausted genre. Vocalist Adam Symonds is an example of someone who can go beyond the monotone screams of the bulk of metalcore yellers, often changing it up with nice banshee howls and an emotive drawl; but he can also scream with the best of them. "Cold Light" storms out of the gate with such ferocity and determination, it gets my vote for best metalcore song of this year. The Treachery Fact is a startling debut EP from a band that will hopefully be turning heads for some time to come.
Suspect Device (#39)
And another "never heard of" band, its quite obvious I know nothing. However, the cover of this 5 track CDEP screams metal, ooh that was quite clever wasn't it? 1st track up is an instrumental and a beauty too, then it's head first straight into real fast. double bass drum, screaming, "dark" sounding metal, fortunately with a few melodic, sung bits to break it up. Production is by Kurt Ballou and so is ace. Track 3 is more of the same is more of the same, but maybe a bit too much so, the melodic vocal parts are very similar to the bits in track 2, very similar. Whispered vocals are also used to scary effect at the beginning of track 4, and is he speaking in tongues there? Crazy metal folk. Track 5 has some twiddly guitar shenanigans, but once again very similar sounding sung parts. If screamy fast metal is your bag, and can also handle a bit of a tune then check these guys out, from the prolific and nicely varied folk at ignition.
UK Base (http://www.ukbase.org.uk)
Eden Maine are a 5 piece from St. Albans, this debut release has been a long time in the making, numerous line-up changes, but now Ignition Records have given them a chance to air their dark metallic hard/noise/emocore onto the world. The CD contains 5 songs that don't drift to far of the original idea, as I said the music is very dark, that varies from extremely dark downtrodden metallic hardcore to guitar overlaid aggro emocore. I have played this over and over again in an attempt to give it a good review, but on the whole the music does seem to just wash over me, I don't know if it's that they're trying to fit to much into each songs, but there are only elements of each song that are memorable the rest just blends into eachother, and though the recording was done with the mighty Kurt Ballou, guitarist in Converge and a sort after producer in his own right, I think that this has suffered from bringing him over to the UK in a studio he wasn't sure of, as I don't think the production sounds that great. The artwork does capture the darkness of the music and the sinister feel of the vocals, though it has been done by the guy that did Grades latest album and it's exactly the same character on their cover. I don't want to seem totally negative, it is a good release if your into the Dillenger Escape Plan, Converge, Botch scene, but it could be so much better. For me the stand out track is 'Cold Light'. This is another band I'm not going to give up on and you should keep an eye out for them.
Lucas George at Terrorizer (#104)
Lets get the hype out of the way now: this debut five track EP from Eden Maine is produced by Kurt Ballou of Converge, and the artwork is provided by respected alternative artist Puddnhead. The music is a sprawling, chaotic mess of math-rock gone mad, which barely holds together where it is so full tilt. Which is a good thing. The main complaint is when the singer breaks from his raspy screaming to unfitting clean vocals, though it does add some texture to proceedings. It's heartening to see young, hungry bands like Eden Maine, 30 Seconds Until Armageddon, Johnny Truant, and Cry Debris proudly flying the flag for UK noisecore. Eden Maine's debut will certainly cause some eyebrows to be raised over the other side of the Atlantic. Imagine the discordance of Coalesce meeting the relentlessness Killswitch Engage. Another one of those bands that fall into the category of 'record a full length soon'! 8/10
Alices Records
Amazing 5 tracker from rising UK band who have tailored a style of Noisecore here to really rival the big international names. Produced by Converge's Kurt Ballou no less, you know this is gonna be something special from the moment the instruments kick in on "A Road That Leads To Fate", pounding you in an epic way reminiscent of Isis, Neurosis, Converge and the Hydrahead set. It certainly isn't an unstructured brutality either with a vocal mix of harsh roars and more melodic yet still forceful lines employed somewhat reminiscent of the old heavy Earthtone 9 sound. Expertly delivering just what discerning Hardcore and Metal fans are asking for these days, I'd be very surprised if Eden Maine don't get swept onto much bigger stages soon.
Matt Hill at Bleed Music (http://www.bleed-music.com)
Literally exploding out of your speakers before you know what's hit you, you fall back clutching your chest, wide-eyed and shell-shocked, head darting round searching for your attacker. A flurry of shots to the head goes unattended and the sound's bleeding, seeping from every pore. A seconds respite amplifies your breathing - anxious, heightened. And it's down again, head swelling, blows from all sides as the flurry restarts. A pounding inside that you can't control, an external pressure of something so huge it can't be explained. "Ephemera" does funny things to the best of us. Eden Maine do the best things to the rest of us.
Marcel at Silent Stagnation
This record just can't be bad. The overwhelming facts of this record must be a sign of quality! These 5 songs were mixed and produced by Kurt Ballou (Converge guitarist) and the cover was done by Puddnhead (designed Grade's "Headfirst Straight To Hell"). Now the musicians have to contribute their part to make this an unforgettable record! And it starts good, the first song is an instrumental track and the introduction to the demolition and it also shows that Eden Maine can handle their instruments. Now I was really looking forward to hear their vocalist and he's blast. He handles perfectly between wild screaming, shouting and melodic singing, often this is done in two voices! I think this record has two sides, one very emotional and frail part and the other which is full of aggression and anger. Take the second and third track, they are a brutal and hectic attacks and are on the same high level like Converge! Whereat Eden Maine's songs have more structure and are more straight-forward played and contain very nice guitar melodies! The forth song 'the Black" is a very melancholy track and shows more the emotional and hopelessly side of their sound! The last song is more in the vein of the first ones and brutal as hell! At all that's a great mixture of brutal metal with razor-sharp guitar riffs, emotional melodies and Hardcore aggression! For fans of Converge and stuff like that definitely worth to check out and Eden Maine also have enough integrity and their own sound. Very big surprise! Rating - 4,5/6
Ellis at Punk News (http://www.punknews.org.uk)
Eden Maine haven't exactly been half-arsed in putting out their debut cd-ep, flying in Kurt Ballou from Converge into the UK to record it, getting the artwork done by Puddnhead, who produced the artwork for the last Grade lp (and allegedly offered Eden Maine a large sum of money to buy the art for this release of them! Probably bullshit, but it's a pretty cool story either way...) It's kinda a shame that the inside of the booklet is kinda bland, looking like a rip off of the booklet of Converge's Jane Doe. Anyway, onto the actual music itself! Again, this isn't a million miles away from what Converge do, but it's more clean and not full of distortion like you may expect, they pull it off very well, and although I don't like every track on here, i can aperciate what they're trying to do, although i'll always prefer Thirty Seconds Until Armageddon for this kinda thing. They've been getting some attention in the mainstream music weekly's too which is awesome, and Kerrang even called them 'young pretender's to Amen's throne', which is the best example of someone completly not getting it since they compared Beecher to Linkin Park! 3 / 5
Sander at My Own Way
Eden Maine from the UK are not one of the most famous bands around, but this EP might just change that. The style they play can be compared as a mix between Breach, Converge and PTW and the entire album has a kind of dark gloom over it. They mix chaotic parts with high intense slow clean parts to drag you through this album. They even got Kurt Ballou from Converge over from the States to do the mixing of this album, just to show you how much these guys put in to their music. Fans of converge, Poison the well, Red Roses for a Blue lady can get this thing without having any mixed feelings when the play it for the first time. Rating: 7,9
Paul Priest at Raw Nerve Promotions (http://www.rawnervepromotions.co.uk)
Review of track Ephemera
This song and this band definitely do not mess about. Right from the first second it's racing away, storming and blitzing through its notes, covering many a different style and sound. Pretty much everything from Dillinger and Converge, Subvert and Bodybug, Will Haven, Shai Hulud and Earthtone9 are thrown in. Guitars shriek out their discordant and beautiful notes with abandon, and vocals roar onwards, only stopping to croon out odd words of the chorus, all delivered with good strength, intelligence and attitude. Around the half way mark, everything stops and drops down into quietness, as a section that could fit on a Tool song takes over, but then soon enough the build ups begin, and our wonderous emotion metallic heaviness resumes, totally reminding me of Shai Hulud in the notation and vocal patterns. Eden Maine sound like an immense prospect, especially when they manage to bundle up such an array of sounds already in just one song, I imagine the full album to be just devastating. One song is just not enough!
Graham Finney at Planet Loud
Starting your EP off with an instrumental track is quite a brave move but, credit to Eden Maine, they pull it off with a dramatic, Poison The Well style wall of riffs. Three minutes later and the band are crashing into Cold Light, a groin-crushing, blast-filled sack of noise that has my teeth rattling in my gums. In the first two tracks Eden Maine have managed to surpass all expectations so by the time Ephemera spins it's merry web around your head it'd be fair for you to be looking forward to every remaining minute of this CD. Ephemera continues the noise/metal crossover thrashfest while track four, the ominously named The Black, is as dark and bleak as the title would have you expect. By the time Scene One closes the CD in a wailing ball of chaos, you realise you've just heard one of the best UK bands around.
Richard Greenway at The RG Review
The long awaited debut EP album from the UK hardcore outfit Eden Maine has finally arrived and was it worth the wait? OH YES! 'The Treachery Pact' is a brutally worked album with many pieces of brilliance for just 5 songs. the album leads in with 'A Road that Leads to Fate' which is an instrumental piece that guides you into the album and a very nice pice it is too... leading you (without gap) to 'Cold Light' where this melodic piece screams in with Adam Symonds rasping vocals. the song mixes tempo and agressive power. excellent. 'Ephemera' is the stand out track for this outing, with a hectic start of brilliant guitars ripping from your stereo. the song flows with a contrast melodic vocal to a screaming one. very nice. pounding drums hold make this track extremely good, melodic part of drumming and soft vocals building into a climax of rage end the track with great form. 'The Black' starts slowly with the sense that something will explode. soft whispery vocals come in. which leads into a medium pace song of whispering scream and an eerie sense. until it finally explodes into chorus heavy and rasping. then back into melodic verse. nice. on the other hand 'Scene One' starts with such an agression that nothing can counter. excellent and trademark hardcore song for Eden Maine, melodic vocals for the chorus but an agressive exploding song overall. This is a great debut from Eden Maine, and the great work from Alan Douches (Mixing) and Kurt Ballou (of Converge) make this altogether a great album. Eden Maine will surely front the every growing UK HxC scene and go from strength to strength.
Phil at Poison Free (http://www.poisonfree.com)
This surprised me completely, as I have never heard of this band before, and as the quality of this release is already really high already! Eden Maine bring all the followers of the weird side of hardcore, supported from bands like Converge, Drowning Man, DEP and labels like Hydra Head new stuff to stick in their veins. Hectic, complicated and complex hardcore with a huge dose of rythmic mayhem, metallic, with desperate screaming that will hit you on the one side - and will hit precise and exactely as you like it, with many repeats of every stroke from their kinda wave-like songstructure. On the other side, we have some melodic passages, almost calmed down, and sometimes the singer surprises with a singing that is comparable to Creed or other post-grunge acts, which is not meant in any negative way here! The musical abilities of the members are cool, especially the drummer keeps your attention with more fills and speed-changes you can remember of when this is over. This is uncompromising and destructive, but beautiful as well, which is the special charme that bands like Eden Maine or any of the aforementioned deliver. Only 5 songs, all quite long and with the need to listen closely to remember them, letting me hope for more. To speak of Converge again: This is produced by Kurt Ballou, and sounds good!
Stuart Brenton at Decavity
Ignition are quickly carving themselves out as a label who release really great records, bands like Hunter Gatherer and the Hot Water Music/Rydell split 7", and now you can add Eden Maine to the list. Mixing a varied amount of styles and coming off like a more melodic Converge, the five tracks on here really show amazing promise, and by the time they come to releasing a full-length you know it's going to blow people away, until then i'll be playing this in heavy rotation amongst other hardcore albums. So for a first release this shows how much the band have it together and hopefully will get even better.
Nick at A short fanzine about Rocking (#4)
These guys are angry, very angry. Take one look at the fact that the EP's been produced by Converge's Kurt Ballou (at the bands own expense) and the artwork looks like an 8 year olds worst nightmare and you can tell this record isn't going to be emo-drippery. On the 5 tracks on offer here, young brits Eden Maine make the sort of unholy racket you can imagine Ballou would be proud of his own outfit producing. Essentially noisecore with a grounding in metallic hardcore, 'the Treachery Pact" is full of pummelling drumming, crushing riffs and ear-splitting vocals that at times becomes overpowering, such is its" intensity. What makes this EP a winner though is the suprising amount of subtlety on display. Tracks like "Cold light" are clever enough to take it down somewhat with some brooding atmospherics and crooned vocals, just when the brutality of it all is getting too much. For a debut EP 'the Treachery Pact" is an impressively uncompromising and fearsome effort and suggests this lot could get nastier.
Dave Everly at Kerrang! Magazine
The epithet "Britains answer to Converge" is both a blessing and a curse. The Boston artcore crew are one of the most visionary, vital, exciting outfits around right now. Comparisons are undoubtedly flattering, but they also raise the bar awfully high. Eden Maine are better equipped to deal with it than most. On this, their debut 5 track EP, they have gone straight to the source and recruited Kurt Ballou as producer. More importantly, they have a set of songs that could stand toe-to-toe with any young screamo band you"d care to mention. 'the Treachery Pact" is as impressive an opening shop as you could hope for, a dense slab of noise that combines intelligence and instinct, subtlety and aggression, darkness and light. It begins with a assured, propellant instrumental entitled "A road that leads to fate". It's a clever move, setting not just the musical tone, but also Eden Maine's philosophical stance: Brave, uncompromising, daring to be different. 'the Treachery Pact" does veer close to Converge territory on more than one occasion (that's not necessarily a bad thing. At least they don't sound like Nickelback). But Eden Maine aren't merely copyists; the likes of "Cold light" and "Ephemera" undeniably have a voice of their own and sore, harsh, occasionally plaintive voice at that. Neither are they wholly impenetrable; there's a sharp set of dynamics and even... whisper it - melody lying at the heart of their organised chaos. Eden Maine are one of an increasing number of British bands ready to step confidently onto the world stage. Their first full-length album... due next year... will be the clincher. For now, though, 'the Treachery Pact" is more than adequate.
The PRP (http://www.theprp.com)
To be frank, the United Kingdom is not generally thought of as highly as the east coast of America when it comes to noisecore and the like but if the other side of the pond can keep producing bands as good Eden Maine they just might have a chance at stealing some of the limelight in the near future. Together for a number of years and surviving a handful of line-up changes, the band recently managed to capture the attention of none other than Kurt Ballou of Converge to produce their latest offering 'the Treachery Pact". A bruising blend of noise, hardcore, metal and melody, the release signifies a promising huge step forward for the band and with higher profile tours constantly on the horizon, a quick and steady rise to prominence looks guaranteed.
Mike Diver at Logo (http://www.logo-magazine.com)
Track one: gentle nodding of head with smile of genuine appreciation; track two: hand tapping incessantly; track three: legs moving without forethought, feeling urge to leap about; track four: give in to urge, flail wildly around bedroom, jump from bed pretending crowd will catch me; track five: there is no crowd, body battered and bruised yet am overcome by strange sensation of satisfaction despite my bleeding. Proceed to repeat all five stages again until bedtime. Eden Maine go duhduhduhduh dadadadadadadadada daaa really fast. They sound like Botch fucking the Dillinger Escape Plan in your mom's bed. They flew Kurt Ballou across to the UK to produce this, their quite unbelievable debut. They have probably come for your parents, your children, your girlfriend, your cat, your porcelain dolls, but fuck it. Let them all go, and lock yourself away with this on, until your ears bleed. That"ll take all of three minutes then.
Fastclick
Never heard of the band before...now, after "absorbing" this MCD, I will not forget the band and their record 'the Treachery Pact" ever after. EDEN MAINE are surely/hopefully about to become a name in the HC scene after releasing this very good MCD with 5 songs on it... Produced by none other than CONVERGE`s Kurt Ballou could be a good hint what EDEN MAINE`s music sounds like. In fact the guys take this chaotic CONVERGE touch and combine it with lots of atmospherical and instrumental interludes and a la new BREACH stuff and add a good portion of melodic Metalcore in the vein of POISON THE WELL or COMPLETE to it. Not to forget the Emocore parts... The singer changes between desperate screaming and clean singing parts. These last mentioned actual singing parts sound a lot like Mike Patton during his time in FAITH NO MORE. I was really impressed by this fact !!! Very good fusion of these above described styles, leaving me desperate and happy for the same time (how many other releases are capable of that ??) and definitely begging for more stuff... I hope to hear a lot more from EDEN MAINE in the future !!!
RG Monster (http://www.rgmonster.com)
The long awaited debut EP album from the UK hardcore outfit Eden Maine has finally arrived and was it worth the wait? OH YES! 'The Treachery Pact' is a brutally worked album with many pieces of brilliance for just 5 songs. the album leads in with 'A Road that Leads to Fate' which is an instrumental piece that guides you into the album and a very nice piece it is too... leading you (without gap) to 'Cold Light' where this melodic piece screams in with Adam Symonds rasping vocals. the song mixes tempo and aggressive power. excellent. 'Ephemera' is the stand out track for this outing, with a hectic start of brilliant guitars ripping from your stereo. the song flows with a contrast melodic vocal to a screaming one. very nice. pounding drums hold make this track extremely good, melodic part of drumming and soft vocals building into a climax of rage end the track with great form. 'The Black' starts slowly with the sense that something will explode. soft whispery vocals come in. which leads into a medium pace song of whispering scream and an eerie sense. until it finally explodes into chorus heavy and rasping. then back into melodic verse. nice. on the other hand 'Scene One' starts with such an aggression that nothing can counter. excellent and trademark hardcore song for Eden Maine, melodic vocals for the chorus but an aggressive exploding song overall. This is a great debut from Eden Maine, and the great work from Alan Douches (Mixing) and Kurt Ballou (of Converge) make this altogether a great album. Eden Maine will surely front the every growing UK HxC scene and go from strength to strength.
Marcus at Fury Fanzine (http://www.furyfanzine.com)
Before this CD even got near my CD player, Eden Maine's passion for their music was clear. Not only did they get the sought-after Puddnhead to cover the artwork duties (who did the new Grade record among others) but they also flew in Kurt Ballou (of Converge) to produce their record.
All this for their debut release! Eden Maine obviously needed everything to be just right; this sheer perfectionism is evident throughout their music too. There is definitely a Converge influence but Eden Maine are more akin to Isis and Botch with their slow, drawn-out build-ups climaxing with primeval butchery then lapsing back into unearthly, melodious drones at the bat of an eyelid.
Complimented by the afore-mentioned perfect production and artwork, 'the Treachery Pact" is an all-round work of art that pushes the boundaries of English extreme music.
Source Lost During Site Upate
Track one: Gentle nodding of the head with smile of genuine appreciation; track two: Hand tapping incessantly; track three; legs moving without forethought, feeling urge to leap about; track four: Give into urge, flail wildly around bedroom, jump from bed pretending crowd will catch me; track five: There is no crowd, body battered and bruised yet am overcome by strange sensation of satisfaction despite my bleeding. Proceed to repeat all five stages until bedtime. Eden Maine go duhduhduhduh dadadadadadadada daaa really fast. They sound like Botch fucking the Dillenger Escape Plan in your mom's bed. They flew Kurt Ballou across to the UK to produce this, their quite unbelievable debut. They have probably come for your parents, your children, your girlfriend, your cat, your porcelain dolls, but fuck it. Let them all go, and lock yourself away with this on, until your ears bleed. That"ll take all of three minutes then.
Invisible Youth (http://www.Invisibleyouth.com)
Apparently, Eden Maine dominate the UK hardcore scene. After hearing this CD, I understand why. Combining a very diverse selection of styles, ranging from doom to metalcore to melodic hardcore, this group hit heavy and with an intensity rarely heard from bands on either side of the Atlantic. I would hope that with such great songwriting, Eden Maine would get some attention in America. This CD could be compared to Converge, Floor, or Grade in one breath... simply incredible.
Emoisdead (http://www.emoisdead.com)
Eden Maine do a 20 minute noise inferno after which you're flat like an autobahn in Holland. Ok, I must admit that the singer's voice isn't any easy-listening when he sings but his screaming is ok and the other dudes simply know how to play their instruments. Think of old Cave-In and Dillinger Escape Plan, when you hear this chaotic yet sublime, thrilling and evocative ep. Oh and for you scenesters, this was produced by Kurt Ballou (the guy that produced Converge, too), so you can imagine sound's fat! CD starts with a 3 minute instrumental intro, carries you over to noise riffs, double bass attacks and ends with an almost pathetic 6 minute 20 seconds song. Thumb up for this cd, but not for the cover.
Woys (http://www.woys.com/florian)
This is the first time I have had the chance to hear Eden Maine. The band concentrates the sequel of hardcore culture through the wealth of ideas, in this way the album is a perfect blend of metal and hardcore and even emo. Fans of The Dillinger Escape Plan or Botch are sure to like this. The drums are pounding fast and solid and the vocals of Adam Symonds are very intense. Kicking off with "A Road That Leads To Fate" a moving, big-sounding instrumental is the ideal taster of what's to come. Not that you get much time to digest before being presented with the incredible "Cold Light", a furious onslaught of a track that's sure to be a favourite and displays an outstanding range of vocals. 'the Black" is a brooding, dark track that initially breaks out of the chaos and builds with inter-changing structures similar to Botch. One last thing: the album was produced by Kurt Ballou of Converge.
Hard Boiled (http://www.hardboiled.net)
If you think of music from the little island in the Northern Sea, you think of The Beatles, Queen and Iron Maiden, no one really thinks of hardcore right? But The developing hardcore country UK slowly emerges to a, well, already developed hardcore country and they do this with full force!! Eden Maine turn my conception of the HC-world upside down with their 2002 EP 'the Treachery Pact" These 5 atmospheric, heavy songs make me cry from happiness and make shivers run down my spine. The sawing guitar, the chaotic heavy pounding drums and not to forget the great singing of singer Adam Symonds give the songs a lot of pressure. This and the fact that the EP was produced by Kurt Ballou of Converge, who did a great job, make this record to one of the last month's highlights! The cool cover artwork is made by Puddnhead, who also did the "Headfirst Straight Into Hell" artwork for Grade. Finally there's only oine more thing to say: I am looking forward to the first full length album by Eden Maine, which is to be produced in september 2003. I hope this will be at least as good as 'the Treachery Pact"...
