ALBUM REVIEW: EDGE OF PARADISE - PERFECT SHADE OF BLACK

The latest offering from Edge of Paradise entitled Perfect Shade of Black is definitely going to take a few people by surprise. If you have their debut album Mask, you may think you know what you can expect from this new album. Well, let me tell you, preconceived notions don’t always hold true and this is a prime example. Now, before you read this and start to panic, take a deep breath because everything is going to be ok. This new EP is going to surprise you in a major way, but in a really good way.

Mask featured the rhythm section of Tony Franklin (The Firm) on bass and Greg Bissonette (David Lee Roth) on drums and they are missing on this new release. They are replaced by Nick Ericson on bass and John Chominsky on drums. Dave Bates is back again on guitar and the amazing voice of Margarita Monet is again fronting the band. It was also very interesting to see that Bob Kulick (KISS/Alice Cooper) and Brett Chassen handle production duties and it was mixed by Michael Wagener (Accept/WASP).

The EP opens with the title track and it doesn’t take long to pick up on the fact that the song is more melodic that what we heard on Mask. You can also pick up on the addition of the symphonic elements as well. Oh, it’s still guitar driven and Margarita’s soaring vocals are ever present, but you can definitely tell the difference. I think the lead-off single “Breakaway” is a prime example of what fans will get with this EP. There’s an Iron Maiden or DIO feel to it and the guitars soar just as high if not higher than Margarita’s insane vocal range. The band does hit the brakes and slows down the pace on “Ghost.” This was an amazing change of tempo selection, complete with a string section and an epic guitar solo.

“Perfect Shade Of Black” (Lyric Video)

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As much as I loved their debut album, I think this EP may paint a clearer picture of exactly who this band is and what can be expected from them. The rhythm section of Ericson and Chominsky is very solid and tight and they definitely provide a strong and powerful rhythmic foundation that the songs are built upon. Dave Bates is a beast on the guitar as his soaring solos are epic in composition and bring a lot of classic elements to the game. What can I say about the amazing vocals of Margarita that hasn’t already be said? Don’t let that pretty face fool you because this woman is not a gimmick. She sings circles around so many other vocalists in the industry today; both male and female.

My one and only complaint about this EP is that it’s too short. Once those five tracks are over, you automatically hit repeat because it’s just not enough. They have the look, the sound and the talent to back it all up. Do yourself a favor, skip that latte from Starbucks and grab this EP. You’ll not only be able to enjoy it much longer than that latte, but you’ll be helping the environment as well. You could also pack your lunch for work instead of eating out and on your break, head over to the band’s website and order a copy of Perfect Shade of Black. If you hurry, you can even snag an autographed copy while they last. Music is good for the soul and this EP definitely will definitely enrich you on many levels.

By: Johnny Price, Senior Journalist

PERFECT SHADE OF BLACK – 5 out of 5 Skulls!