From Bandcamp, “Hailed as a “a great example of contemporary Progressive Rock” by Ian Anderson, EDENSONG have delighted audiences throughout the US and abroad with their genre-bending blend: a hard driving rhythm section, flute playing that ranges from serenely melodic to avant-garde, lush vocal harmonies, and more than a touch of orchestral ambition.  EDENSONG returns with a new album “Our Road to Dust” in 2025, their first since releasing the critically adored “Years in the Garden of Years” in 2016.  Their first album to be crafted as a quartet, the record embodies the ambitious, detailed and eclectic sound they have cultivated over the years, but is far heavier, more focused and fuller of infectious melodic hooks.”

The album has nine songs, and “Of Ascents” is first; a short intro, leading to “The Illusion of Permanence.” It begins with some dissonant riffs that segue into a dark melody, and some flute notes accent the song. Out of the gate, you can hear the band’s strong musicianship, as they navigate some meter shifts with ease. “These Old Wounds” has a gentle swing to it, but the overhead skies are still grey and matted with occasional rain. They do a very nice job of letting the song develop. The song is fairly loose, but structured when it needs to be. “Black Crow” has some very nice vocal harmonies, and not one of these songs sound like any other. They use keyboards, and electronic here and it is both gentle and firm.

“Hall of Statues” has gritty bass notes to go along with the melody. There is still an air of mystery present in the album, and, like a good book, they keep it hidden where it should be. “Book of Complaints” has more positive tones and I get some of the melodic leanings of GHOST at their most accessible. It is also a fine display of the band’s dexterity and confidence. They hop, skip, and jump through a variety of meters and even key changes with ease. “Wykkr Bäsct” has firmer and more pressing tones, and Barry’s mastery of the flute is quite evident, as it fits into the instrumental here with ease. The title track closes the album, and it has the finest of all different elements on the album stretched into place perfectly.

A lot of Progressive music can be admittedly odd, and personal. This is true with “Our Road to Dust,” but there is also a familiarity on the album that you can hear…perhaps a sense of nostalgia for some of the past bands that helped to shape their sound. This is not an ode to these bands however, it is fresh, modern, bold, artistic, and their melodic sensibilities will have you coming back for more time and time again.