After an absence of a few years, the Austrian symphonic/power metal band Edenbridge are back with a new album, The Great Momentum. Band founder, main songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist Langvall fills us in on the new record, their new drummer, tour plans and more.
Chad Bowar: It has been 3.5 years since your last album, a little longer than your usual time between records. Was there anything in particular that led to this time frame?
Langvall: Right after our last studio album The Bonding I wanted to do something different musically. In 2010 Sabine (Edelsbacher, vocals) and I played a short acoustic showcase in Hanoi (Vietnam), just piano and vocals. This was really inspiring, so we founded Voiciano, the acoustic project. Only acoustic instruments were allowed to be used, so no drums, electric guitars and keyboards. I recorded most of the piano parts live without click tracks and then everything followed. In 2014 we released our first album Everflow.
After that I had the idea to do a history DVD about the first 15 years of our career. In the end I sat over a year in the cutting room and out came a 9 hour documentary on 6 DVDs called A Decade And A Half…The History So Far. In spring of 2015 I immediately started writing the new studio album The Great Momentum, which also took me a year in the writing and arranging process. And apart from that I have been composing for a big Austrian TV documentary since 2014 called “Above Austria,” where Austria is shown from the helicopter perspective. This is a project that is planned till 2020! So you see, I didn’t get bored in all those years between our two studio albums.
You’ve had a lineup change since the last album. How did new drummer Johannes Jungreithmeier come to join the band?
Max told us in March last year that he was leaving due to the lack of interest in drumming generally. Many things have changed in his life and therefore it was a logical step for him. Johannes was the first one I had in mind, as he also plays in Thirdmoon with our guitar player Dominik. We met, spoke about a lot of things and then worked on the drum parts for the album. In the end he recorded the album in just unbelievable 9 hours! Apart from that he did the whole artwork and the cover together with Anthony Clarkson, as he is a 3D graphic designer in his day job.
How has his presence impacted the band?
There is a different kind of energy in the band now with Johannes and I appreciate this very much. It´s a lot of fun and we are working on the same goal.
Have you found a new bassist yet?
Stefan Gimpl from the German band Crystallion will help us out on bass for the upcoming live shows. He´s a great player and guy and if touring goes well with him I am pretty sure he can become our new permanent bass player.
Are there any disadvantages to producing the album yourself?
Not at all. When I am composing, I have the final sound in my mind. To reach this it is a long way in producing it, but it is such a nice process. First time when you hear the real drums, the real voice, the real orchestra, the mix and the mastering.
Is it a challenge to incorporate the orchestral parts effectively?
Yes it is. The most important thing is to keep the dynamics. If you have the orchestra playing all the time, it’s not bombastic anymore. You have to find room for all the details. Therefore, I wanted the orchestra to be a real blast when it appears and I think this how it sounds now.
What inspired the album title?
The Great Momentum is a very powerful title, therefore it needed an equivalent artwork. The Great Momentum is the “timeless, absolute NOW”. People often tend to live in the future or in the past and forget about this very moment, where life is happening. The stone lady in her meditation pose and the energy flowing through her body reflects this very well. The album title is moving like a red line through all the lyrics.
How was the response to your crowdfunding campaign for the album?
Overwhelming again. It is simply wonderful to see how many fans have been participating. It is a total win-win situation for both sides. I didn’t expect that people would come to England to the studio to meet me there or come to Linz for a dinner with the band. Thanks again to all the people who became part of the album that way.
What led to the decision to make it a double album with instrumental versions of the first disc?
I always like the instrumental version being included. I think our music has also a lot to offer instrumentally, so you can hear every little detail much better. Furthermore, our music is often used in Formula 1 broadcasting and other sports events by Austrian TV. And it is great for people to sing along in a karaoke version.
You have a couple of Austrian shows on your calendar. Do you have plans for more touring this year?
We’re doing the 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise in February, which is awesome, as this is our first appearance in America. Then we have two home shows after that and then there are plans to go to Vietnam for a tour which is still not confirmed yet. Of course we are working on more shows after that.
Will there be another Voiciano album?
I have written two songs and already recorded piano for those, but at the moment there are no plans for a second album. But you can still purchase the album and all other items in our webstore.
What’s currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Nothing in heavy rotation I would say. But I love Moon Safari, the Swedish art-rock band. The last Dream Theater The Astonishing often rotates. New Marillion too.
(interview published February 17, 2017)
