EDENBRIDGE has been around since 1998. As of 2026, that will be 28 years. Their discography includes 12 full-length studio releases plus several live albums. I mean, this band has seen it all . . . so it's surprising to see them burst into the new year with the heaviest album in their storied career, the aptly titled "Set The Dark On Fire." At this point in their trajectory, most bands would be getting in touch with their mellow, acoustic side and just taking a seat. EDENBRIDGE is doing the opposite.

Lanvall (guitars, bass, keyboards) says of the album: 'With "Set The Dark On Fire," we remain absolutely true to our style, but—in collaboration with our long-time mixing and mastering engineer Karl Groom (THRESHOLD)—have tweaked some important parameters in the guitar/bass/drums area. The result is our most energetic and heaviest album to date. At the same time, Karl, as usual, ensures a crystal-clear mix that transparently showcases every detail.'

While the album may be more visceral than previous releases, there are many things that remain consistent—the superb songwriting, the soul-speaking melodies, the incredible tightness of a band that truly knows each other artistically, and, of course, Sabine's incredible vocals. On one level, "Set The Dark On Fire" showcases EDENBRIDGE as we have always known and loved; on another level, it showcases EDENBRIDGE as we have never witnessed before. Both can be true. 

This 13-track album features 13 standout tracks. Instead of touching on all of them, I'll highlight my favorites. First comes first: "The Ghost Diaries" kicks off the album like a salvo shot over the bow. This track is elegant, eerie, and comes at us with a vengeance, setting the stage for the rest of the album.  Next on my list is "Where The Wild Things Are." This track has bit of a pirate swag to it with a triumphant chorus that you'll be humming to yourself for the rest of the day. It also features a gorgeous solo and a breakdown that can only be described as epic.

Also on my list is the title track, "Set The Dark On Fire," which lands mid-album. This is a groove-laden number with Sabine getting sultry and wicked. If you need a visual interpretation of this track, look no further than the cover rendered by none other than Johannes Gral (drums). Another notable track is "Lighthouse" which alongside "Divine Dawn Reveal" has a distinct Eastern vibe to it. 

I have saved the best for last. EDENBRIDGE could have easily made this a nine-track album. Nine tracks would have provided almost 40 minutes of runtime. No one would have complained. Instead, the band added a four-part, 13-minute track "Spark Of The Everflame." "Spark Of The Everflame" could have been a standalone EP. Though coming at the end of the album, the band describes this extended piece as the album's centerpiece which "impressively summarizes the entire spectrum of the Edenbridge sound."

So many symphonic bands top out early and then just reapply the same formula that brought them initial success over and over again, album after album. EDENBRIDGE breaks that mold. "Set The Dark On Fire" does exactly what it promises. It sets a torch to our beloved darkness but instead of destroying, it magnifies. EDENBRIDGE kicks off 2026 with style, grace, and much, much force. I am hesitant to call "Set The Dark On Fire" their best album ever, but it just might be.