| Musical Style: Melodic Metal / Hard Rock | Produced By: Daniel Holter |
| Record Label: Independent / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1994 / 2003 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 48:41 |
Eden makes a strong first impression, thanks to its melodic vocals, memorable choruses, virtuoso guitar playing and inviting melodic metal and hard rock allure. The group traces to 1991 when under the Scream In Eden moniker it placed the track “Till The End” on the Star Song Records compilation Brave New World. A name change to Eden preceded the 1994 independent release to its full-length debut Fan The Flame, which due to a lack of promotion fell beneath the radar and failed to receive the notoriety it deserved. Fast forward to 2003 and a reissue to Fan The Flame on Retroactive Records makes it commercially available for the first time. A second reissue five years later on Z-Rock Records is under the initial Scream In Eden moniker but re-titled Original Sin and includes new cover art and different song sequence.
Temptation is to label Eden melodic metal (glam-hair-pop metal if you will) with Dokken, Ratt, Guardian, Stryper, Holy Soldier and Whitecross as points of reference. While such indicators are not inaccurate and play influencing roles, there is more to Eden in form of a strong blues aspect, referencing the acoustic guitar, grainy rhythm guitar and Hammond B3 imbuing its sound to the point hard rock if not classic rock also applies. Vocalist Joe Dokken (no relation to Don Dokken) plays no small role in such regard with a soaring classic tenor style that emanates raw and gritty heartfelt soul perfectly akin to the blues.
Joining Joe Dokken is a host of guest musicians, including Phil Medeira (organ), Brian Wirt (drums), Mark Robertson (bass) and Rex Carroll (guitars). Carroll, obviously, needs little if any introduction as a founding member of Whitecross and multiple recipient of the annual ‘Heaven’s Metal Guitar Hero Award’. He imparts his signature pyrotechnics and flashy soloing while taking equally to the blues in light of his acclaimed blues-rock project The Rex Carroll Band. Musically, I find the Carroll and Joe Dokken partnership on equal level to that in Whitecross with vocalist Scott Wenzel in terms of acumen and impact- release Fan The Flame during the mid to late eighties and it would be venerated as a classic alongside the top ‘white metal’ albums of the time.
“Need Somebody” starts the album as an accurate indicator of the Eden sound. Metal burnished guitar riffs establish the sculpted foundation, intrusive hooks refuse to adjourn and expansive harmonies exude of the commercial. Carroll runs the game from boundless rhythm guitar to flamboyant soloing. Lyric snippet:
“Show Me” slows tempo to a bluesy hard rock groove. Essence is a laid back and relaxed formatting, revealed in the earthy guitar tones - the bluesy mid point soloing is brilliant - and soulfully ingrained vocals. Light acoustic resolves and hints of organ reassure of seventies classic hard rock.
“Morning Star” stands apart as this reviewer’s choice cut. Carroll’s distinctive open air guitar gets things going ahead of organ oozing in, the corresponding metal meets hard rock groove emanating of the gallantly mid-paced as luxurious harmony vocals and refined but not to fault residuals make a convincingly melodic statement. I take to manner in which the extended soloing helps take the song past five minutes. Lyric snippet:
The fool he walks by sight
But the wise man listens to advice to save his life
Fear not the beast who walks the night
Hold fast to the one that shows us what is right
He is the light
Now is the time to give it all to Him
Tear down the walls
And let the Son shine in
I identify with “Fan The Flame” as an acoustic ballad. Albums title track maintains the bluesy swagger, organ again makes appearance and guitar shuffles and skids in gravelly fashion, but also touches upon the commercial, backing vocals adorning the catchy refrain are some of the biggest you will hear (in most positive sense). I see this one being a hit if released as a single back in the day. Lyric snippet:
Lord, help me to remember
The day when the fire burned bright
For all the world to see
Lord, fan the flame, the flame in me
Now that the ashes have grown cold
Fan the flame
Bring new life to the ember
Fan the flame
“Tomorrow’s Yesterday” separates as albums most blues impacted. It trends blues resolved classic rock, granular with its nonchalant qualities emanating an easy-going flair - mid-paced with an even linking of brambly guitar and unfeigned organ - but also immersing in light of its instigative melody. Carroll is at the top of his sober lead guitar game.
“Forgotten Child” is another top cut. It returns to Whitecross style melodic metal, flanking semi ballad territory with acoustic guitar adorning the unfeigned verse sections and a metallic edge for the unshaken refrain in which catchy harmony vocals gain the upper hand. If Stryper recorded this, fans would consider it a classic.
“Give Me A Reason” represents five minutes of mid-paced grit and gravel. Song elevates in trademark bluesy fashion by mirroring a barebones hard rock posture- not catchy in a commercial sense but inviting in terms of the draggled temper to prevail. Instrumental run ranges from neo-classical shredding to soaring feedback to incensed riffing. Carroll brings SO much to the project, imbuing each track with that unique flair, aura and posture to command repeat play. Lyric snippet:
I am a stranger with nowhere to go
I got no friends, and I got no home
I got a reason, it’s what I own
I’m set apart, and I feel alone
Lord, I hear You
Can I cry Your name out loud
But do we realize today we live
But tomorrow we die
“It’s A Shame” is albums shortest at three and half minutes. What we have is a punchy hard rocker, brazen with its furious guitar signatures and accelerated tempo but also endearing when factoring the short-spoken hooks to command. The opening falsetto from Joe Dokken would turn the head of Michael Sweet (Stryper).
“Back To The Garden” revels in no frills walk a fine line between metal and hard rock. It might not be albums catchiest in a commercial sense but draws in equally with its paramount energy - I love how production imbues just enough polish but not so much as to take away from the group’s edge - and vigorous backing vocals. Carroll literally makes his guitar sing on this one. Lyric snippet:
I was lost and blinded by sin
I need someone to show
The path I didn’t know
To paradise and freedom again
So on my knees I prayed
Please show me the way
I know I can’t make it alone
I need Your help to find the love
With several seconds of open-air guitar to start, “Love Rolls On” emanates its five and half mid-tempo minutes to ample heartfelt groove. Acoustic guitar makes its presence felt, adorning the start of the earthy as it gets verse sections, as does muscular rhythm guitar, roaring in at once to reinforce the deafening refrain repeating songs title in blaring fashion. Fantastic manner in which to end one of the nineties most underrated and overlooked albums. Lyric snippet:
You are the one who takes my sins away
Take me from this place to another day
You are the one who came and died for me
Look to You, walk in victory
I feel the glory of creation every day
Walk in the light, doing it God’s way
I got the light, it’s time to fight
Put on your armor in the heat of the night
It goes without saying that after 18 years (noting the July of 2026 time of this writing) Fan The Flame is due for a third reissue. The previous two reissues are either out of print or exceedingly pricy collectors items (a recent eBay listing for Fan The Flame is priced at $135.99, discounted at 15% from the original price of $159.99!). Of course, include bonus material in form of the Brave New World compilation track “Till The End” and three songs off Joe Dokken’s turn of the century EP side project Soul Shelter.
Track Listing: "Need Somebody" (5:10), "Show Me" (4:32), "Morning Star" (5:22), "Fan The Flame" (4:58), "Tomorrow’s Yesterday" (4:30), "Forgotten Child" (6:02), "Give Me A Reason" (4:57), "It’s A Shame" (3:32), "Back To The Garden" (3:54), "Love Rolls On" (5:36)
Musicians
Joe Dokken - Lead Vocals
Rex Carroll - Guitars
Guest Musicians
Phil Medeira - Hammond B3
Mark Robertson - Bass
Brian Wirt - Drums
