• Darth01 Sep 2015 Eidon - Crystalight

    Created in Tours in 2008, the French formation Eidon has behind it an EP, “Fantasia”, and a good experience live. It is therefore with pleasure that we discover that the group did not stop there way and has decided last year to record his first album, “Crystalight”. If the cover has a glowing design somewhat awkward, it would be a shame to stop there and not lend an ear to the content of this first test in the big boys’ league of symphonic metal.

    Line-up:

    • Gabrielle Morche - Vocals
    • Cécile Vollet - Keyboards
    • Thibaut Lemoine - Lead Guitars
    • Sébastien Gané - Rhythm Guitars 
    • Geoffrey Fourmis - Bass
    • Damien Morand - Drums

    Tracklist:

    1. Intro
    2. Thunderforce
    3. New Dawn
    4. Fantasia
    5. Skyline
    6. Angel Inspiration
    7. Exodus
    8. Night’s Outline
    9. Devil Soul
    10. Crystal Sphere
    11. Night Heart Passion
    12. Cender
    13. Panic
    14. At The End Of Exodus (Acoustic Piano)

    Amateurs of melancholic song and grandiose orchestrations, go your way, because Eidon offers us a simple and effective album that emphasizes dynamism to anything else. Providing power metal tinted with ornamentation of symphony, “Crystalight” is an album that you will listen with a smile and which rather seeks to establish a good mood than to move you to tears. In fact, the album contains a lot of nice and catchy titles, such as “Thunderforce”, “Panic” or “Cender”. We feel in each composition the influence of Nightwish period “Oceanborn” or “Wishmaster”, but without the melancholy that emerged from these works. Eidon favors above all the friendly and lively dimension of metal, and offers very rhythmic and catchy choruses that communicate a real energy. We can easily imagine headbanging rhythmically into a lively pit and sing loudly different melodies from “Crystalight” in a warm and joyful atmosphere. In short, Eidon is undoubtedly the group that will lie to the stereotype of metalheads lonely and depressed that draw tears with black eyeliner, and this approach could not be more commendable.

    However, if the music of the French band is certainly very pleasant to listen and to live at a concert, thus who’ll prefer to listen quietly in their chair will probably experience a feeling of incompleteness. Indeed, the group seems to have other ambitions than to blow the audience in a concert, but does not totally keep its promises in “Crystalight.” The intros of different track, for example, are often made on the keyboard and offer a sounds very airy, almost hovering (“New Dawn”, “Angel Inspiration”, “Cender”, “Night Passion Heart” …), but the verses and choruses destroy that atmospheric beginning to provide perky melodies. This dichotomy is somewhat disturbing evokes quite the album “Delta” of Visions of Atlantis, a group that Eidon claims the influence. The orchestral effects, although, relatively few present, also suggest a desire to make a little more dramatic compositions, as evidenced by the intro of “Crystalight”. The last song, “At The End Of Exodus”, is fully realized at the piano and has a beautiful conclusion full of sadness and sweetness. These different elements, ranging in contradiction with the the cheerful and boisterous music that Eidon did may disturb during the listening, and give the impression that the group has more ambient and bitter-sweet tendencies without realizing altogether. When ethereal notes of the intros followed by bouncy choruses and guitaristic flourishes, frustration sets in, what we can only regret.

    Regarding the singing, the lovely Gabrielle is doing quite well and her potential leaves no doubt. Alternating between beautiful lyrical passages and more natural one, the young woman is versatile and has a clear and pleasant tone. The speed of the refrains also allows us to admire her excellent articulation. On titles “Panic” and “Skyline”, she even tries a more aggressive register that brings a welcome touch of originality and on the calm “Night’s Outline” the delicate interpretation with delicate French lyrics allows to escape the obliged passage of the eternal ballad, turning this song into little poetic gem. Rhythmic and energetic, she brings to the songs an unrelenting pace that will delight fans in concert. However, she could still gain efficiency and heaviness.


    Gabrielle knows how to switch between several registers and her pretty voice is an undeniable asset to the music of Eidon. We hope that its potential and versatility will be better used in future productions of the group. As for the vocals, they are made artificially and their use is still rare.

    The symphony effects, made ​​on keyboard, are not at the center of the compositions and just back up the set guitar/drum/bass. Their record is also a bit poor, but we can’t blame this at a beginner group, which probably does not yet have the capacity to create an orchestral illusion of quality.

    A small lack of coherence between the aerial dimension of the introductions and the perky developments ensuing prevent this note to reach the top. Crystalight remains a very pleasant album to listen to.

    It is therefore with pleasure that we welcome this young band on the French scene of symphonic metal, and we hope to soon have news of them. The music of Eidon will definitely please those who appreciate a catchy, fresh and dynamic metal, and we look forward to seeing the band in live in order to appreciate the entire energy “Crystalight” vehicle!

    Highlight: Thunderforce, Night’s Outline, Panic