Time Signature Tasty US power metal...

Genre: US power metal

Some people think that I hate power metal per se. That is not the case. I do not like cheesy happy-puppy Euro power metal - that's true - but I definitely enjoy relatively cheese-free power metal, and, if it retains the aggression that defines metal, then that's even better.

New Eden's "Solving for X" is, for my money one of those power metal albums which retain those things that I really do enjoy about power metal, such as the big choruses and the emphasis on melody, but, taking a US power metal approach, their music is dark and aggressive.

Actually, "Solving for X" is on the verge of being power-thrash, which New Eden make clear right from the outset with the aggressive opener 'Anthem of Hate', and, as you might expect 'Unsolved Aggression' is also on the aggressive and thrashy side. In virtually all songs (with a few exceptions, such as "Three Words") do New Eden draw on power metal with thrash elements. Tracks like "Brainless" and "The Not Self" place more emphasis on melody, and others like "Flames of Hades" and "Life Not Death" are kind of progressive. But the main expressive frame is that of aggression.

Aggressive, but still melodic and epic, "Solving for X" is an excellent alternative to the more silly-happy European power metal. Fans of the more U.S. power metal and melodic thrash metal are likely to enjoy this album.