EDGE OF FOREVER's­­­­­­­­ fourth release, "Native Soul," has successfully convinced me that the music I thought had left us 27 years ago, with the onset of grunge, did no such thing. It instead packed its bags and moved to Europe, where it is still being kept alive and very well by bands such as ROADHOUSE DIET, AUTUMN'S CHILD, and this incredible band, EDGE OF FOREVER.

Originally formed in 2002, EDGE OF FOREVER now consists of original keyboardist, now also serving well on lead vocals, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Aldo Lonobile (SECRET SPHERE) on guitars, Nik Mazzucconi (LABYRINTH) on bass, and Marco De Salvia (HARDLINE) handling drums. These musicians work together like a well-oiled machine on this record. They are as tight as any group I have heard, and the production value is exceptional.

The album opens with the absolutely gorgeous, almost CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH like, a capella piece called "Three Rivers," blending all four voices into a fantastic harmony. It is the very tip of the iceberg, as business picks up quickly with the title track, "Native Soul," which sets the tone for the remainder of the forty-four minutes of musical brilliance we are in for. The song thunders, with the heavy guitars, bass, and drums perfectly complimenting Del Vecchio's tremendous range and melodic style.

The entire record is one highlight, and by no means am I exaggerating. "Promised Land," another strong rocker, follows, and left me with images of better days, musically, dancing in my head. The song bears a slight resemblance to some of the heavier work of JOURNEY, with the same incredible vocal range and soaring guitar solos screaming over the rock-solid bottom-end.

"Take Your Time" is a heartfelt dedication to the memory of the late Marcel Jacob, producer extraordinaire, and friend and mentor of Del Vecchio. The song truly shines in the instrumental break, a shared solo between Del Vecchio and Lonobile, the latter of which plays some of the most amazing guitar solos I have heard recorded since George Lynch was in his prime.

Other tracks worth mentioning (although, as I said before, there isn't a let down on the album) are the ballad "Shine," with some fantastic lyrical imagery and acoustic guitar fills which serve to prove Lonobile isn't all flash and fire; and the outright rocker "I Made Myself What I Am," with the lyric "I've come too far to get back what I lost"...Alessandro, to my ear, it doesn't seem like you have lost one damned thing.