With their 12th studio album Set The Dark On Fire and their return to the Steamhammer label, Edenbridge explore new soundscapes without abandoning their tried-and-tested trademarks. This is primarily due to a significantly heavier basic sound, which harmonizes perfectly with the lyrical and visual direction of the Austrian quintet featuring singer Sabine Edelsbacher and composer/guitarist/keyboardist Lanvall.
The songs are characterized by harmonic and structural diversity. Powerful riffs and expansive guitar solos meet opulent, symphonic orchestral arrangements and unusual string instruments rarely used in metal, such as the dulcimer, swarmandal, monochord, and electric sitar. Edelsbacher's warm, distinctive timbre lends the compositions a high level of recognition.
The opener "The Ghostship Diaries" captivates with its multi-layered chorus and a heavy, doomy finale. The ballad "Bonded By The Light" unfolds cinematic grandeur and would also shine as the title track for a certain British secret agent. "Lighthouse," including the intro "Divine Dawn Reveal," exudes a flair, while the pounding mid-tempo track "Our Place Among The Stars" surprises with a gospel-like finale. The album's centerpiece is the 13-minute, four-part long track "Spark Of The Everflame," which impressively summarizes the entire spectrum of the Edenbridge sound.
The debut single "Cosmic Embrace" captivates with its enormous hit count and skillfully ramps up the tempo in its orchestral middle section. The accompanying video captivates with impressive imagery: The labyrinth symbolizes the path to inner contemplation. The energy gathered thereby culminates in blazing fire — a metaphor for transformation and the uplifting connection with solar energy. Image and sound merge into an emotional wave that deeply touches the listener/viewer.
Watch the "Cosmic Embrace" video below.
Set The Dark On Fire will be released on January 16, 2026 through Steamhammer as CD digipak, 2LP gatefold version, and digital and can be pre-ordered here.
