With high expectations I put the last album of Edenbridge in my CD-player. Whoa, the intro of “Terra Nova” is very bombastic and symphonic; it’s overwhelming and is blowing out of your speakers. With the words “Welcome home, Welcome life” Edenbridge is inviting you for a great journey through “The Grand Design”. If you like emotional, epic, bombastic and symphonic metal/hard rock with “The Grand Design” you are at the right place. On the list of quest musicians are mentioned Robby Valentine and Karl Groom (Threshold). They both are playing on this superb “Terra Nova”, you can hear the typical style of Robby Valentine clearly (great choirs, very symphonic), I think it is very impressive. This album has a great sound, Karl Groom is responsible for this; “The Grand Design” is recorded in the Thin Ice Studio by him.

Songwriter and guitar player Lanvall has created with “The Grand Design” the 5th album of Edenbridge. In relation to the former albums the band has made a step forward in epic, symphonic metal. Singer and front lady Sabrina Edelsbacher is singing with a bright voice, the whole sound of the album is great; although if the heavy riffs could have been recorded more heavier, the album would have sounded superb.

Of course there is also a ballad: “Taken Away” is a beautiful acoustic ballad, in this case it is a silence before the storm. Although “The Grand Design” is over 10 minutes it’s never boring. This is symphonic metal on a high level. Sarah opens the song with her bright voice, followed by bombastic music with a great choir. As said above there are a lot of Robby Valentine elements but with more heavy riffs, I like that. Halfway in the song there are several musical intermissions (piano, mandolin, bouzouki and guitar) varied by heavy riffs and symphonic choirs. Listen to the sensitive guitar solo and the symphonic ending of the song.

“The Grand Design” is definitely a grand design and the highlight of the album which is followed by the instrumental “Empire of the Song” (even with elements of Pink Floyd). Close your eyes and dream away.