Formed from the ashes of defunct band August Redmoon, Californian based EDEN released their self-titled album in 1986 with the release now being re-issued by the Divebomb label with nine bonus songs consisting of demos  and their 2012 reunion EP which featured a different singer. The brief intro that starts the first song on is misleading as it sounds like what a fantasy metal band might use to open their album, however this could be farthest from the truth because when "Pound it Out really" gets going what you get is a hard hitting Nwobhm inspired band with vocals that sound to me like a combination of a certain Mr Lemmy Killmister and Rob Halford. With a driving beat and great dirty guitar riffs, this first song is imbued with a great sing along chorus that speeds up towards the end with some subtle double bass drum work added for good measure. Second song "The Looking Glass" starts off slightly slower than the opening song with an infectious and melodic chorus that is repeated often during the course of the song that elevates it to what can be described as an almost arena type Metal song. "Judgement Day" the third song on the album, a song that starts with a Painkiller era Judas Priest type drum roll before exploding into a fast and furious Nwobhm Metal song with a slightly rougher street wise edge due to the grit found not only in the vocals but also in the stellar guitar work on this track. In fact the vocals on this song reminds me of a younger Rob Halford when he had a bit more grit to his vocals. This is an absolute Killer song that has a slower middle section and an ending that is just as fast as it began. What becomes with clear the further you delve into this album is the variety of material found on this album, from mid-paced metal and hard rock songs with fast, almost thrash inspired traditional Metal elements to straight up speed and thrash Metal bangers that would not have been out of place on a Priest record circa 1990. This band manages to combine different styles that cover the whole Metal spectrum and it is a wonder why they did not turn out to be more popular.

Speaking of different styles "Morte- gone too far" the 4^th song is another belter with a doomy slower and atmospheric feel, starting with ominous Monk like chanting and an acoustic riff that leads into a slow grooving Metal anthem that has to be heard to be believed and that brought a tear of joy to my eye, THIS is Heavy Metal, how it should be played and performed, THIS is why so many people are infected with the Metal Virus and THIS is a song that makes the hairs stand on the back of your neck, with its perfectly placed acoustic moments and an awesome rhythm section I am reminded at once of Merciful fate, Candlemass, Maiden and Priest, a song created with the sole purpose to lift fists into the night sky and Hail the Metal Gods. "Victim the world" and the "Bigger they Are" are two more awesome Metal songs with a killer choruses and driving beats, the latter in particular with its fist pumping chorus of ' the bigger they are, the harder they fall, I will take them all, come one, come all ' being particularly inspiring. The remaining tracks offer the same diversity and are just as strong as all the aforementioned tracks and although singer Michael Henry and guitarist Rick Scott Corso have since sadly passed away, this remastered 20 track affair is a must for fans of traditional Heavy Metal and one that its creators can be extremely proud of even though some of them have since departed to the mighty hall of Valhalla.