Band: Chasing Eden
Title: The Dying Place
Label: N/A
Release Date: January 26, 2009
Review By: Scott L
Tracklisting:
01. Path of Provision
02. Sometimes
03. The Dying Place
04. Will I Ever Learn
Chasing Eden is a female-fronted 4-piece out of Wilmington, North Carolina. As seems to be the case these days, any rock outfit with female vocals is automatically compared to Flyleaf, Fireflight, and Evanescence… so let me start off by saying two things. First, that’s comparing apples to oranges. And second, I like Chasing Eden better than all three. This is not alt-goth or nu-metal, it’s straight up, tuned down rock. If I had to draw comparisons for the sake of style, I’d probably go with the band Advent. Not the Advent that put out “Remove the Earth” on Solid State last year, the independent band that put out “The Lines of Healing” in 2006. Huge difference. Maybe them… or maybe Under the Flood. With, of course, the addition of a capable female vocalist.
And capable she is. And then some. Chasing Eden’s 4-song EP titled “The Dying Place” is a good showcase of what this band has to offer. Soaring vocals. Deep, chugging guitars. Big resonating bass lines. And crash and bang, cymbal heavy drums. Everything you’d expect from good hard rock and roll. Great production levels everything out and delivers a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Along with the great music is a great message. Maybe not as obviously evangelical as some my hope for, but the four tracks on this EP are all very focused on offering help in times of trial and temptation. Consider “Path of Provision” which opens the EP, “the churning inside and the stress in my mind / tells me I’m broken but indeed I am whole / yet I see the promise instead / a hidden road that climbs high / out of the mayhem and chaos / the path of provision / behind the storms veil, the skies fire still exists / burning bright just as we remembered / the darkness gets beaten back / beaten back once more / it’s all just as it was”. The vision for the songs is clear… so sayeth their songs, so sayeth their MySpace page, “Chasing Eden is representative of every Christian’s daily struggle to resist the lusts of the flesh and the desire to return to our former glory… Chasing Eden remains focused on their goal to reach others with the message of Christ…”
Standout track was “Sometimes” which is a beautifully atmospheric rock ballad. I’d call it a power-ballad, but that might be too 80’s. Suffice to say, it’ll have you waving your cell-phone in the air above your head… or at least thinking about waving your cell-phone in the air above your head.
Overall: Chasing Eden has put out a quality EP that you would do well to give a listen to. Great female-fronted rock that’s hard not to like. I look forward to hearing more from them in the future.
www.myspace.com/chasingedenmusic