Eclipse - ‘Paradigm’
Album Review
Erik Martensson is a prolific guy. Since the last Eclipse album, he has contributed quality songs to W.E.T, Nordic Union and Ammunition among others but he’s back with his signature band and another batch of fine tunes.
Maybe due to the pre-eminence of W.E.T. or perhaps just because they’re Swedish, Eclipse are sometimes bundled under the AOR tag but they’re actually a much heavier proposition altogether. Paradigm is primarily a guitar album on which the band further evolve their anthemic, riff-based sound. This is most clearly demonstrated on songs like ‘Masquerade’ and ‘Delirious’ which are obvious highlights featuring massive choruses and a big drum sound. Some of the arrangements are quite evocative with a Celtic tinge like on ‘When the Winter Ends’ which has a very subtle hint of Big Country and Magnus Henriksson delivers a very tasty solo at the end of this one.
Blood, guns and bullets feature prominently in the lyrics of several songs, perhaps to emphasise the tougher direction. ‘United’ is a flag-waving, musketeer anthem and lead single ‘Viva La Victoria’ actually sounds like something Sabaton might do if they went AOR (which is kind of unlikely but it would be interesting). Songs with a girl’s name in the title are a melodic rock staple and are usually soppy love songs. Not so on this album’s ‘Mary Leigh’, as Erik implores the protagonist of the title to ‘put a bullet in me’ - it is a cracking rock tune.
The songs on Paradigm will definitely work very well live so I would imagine Eclipse are likely to steal the show at HRH AOR once again in March. Don’t miss them if you’re going.