The First Eden - Seeds Of Hope [Regular Edition]

EoE's first two EPs were great, even though the "Evolve Extended Version," weirdly enough, is still not available on any disc. Just as weirdly, there are no similar instrumental feasts to be found anywhere on "Seeds," much less the shred-showcase that is the "Evolve" video. There is precious little even in the way of simple solos on the album, and not a single song on "Seeds of Hope" that gives Mina - or Yuki or Ayasa or drummer Mizuki - anything interesting to do instrumentally. It's just 100% straight-ahead Pop-Metal - tight and well-produced, but nothing that stands out. The kind of instrumental tour-de-force we heard in "Evolve," and which we Rock fanatics have been eagerly awaiting, is nowhere to be found here. The missing virtuosity is strange enough to be conspicuous, particularly given the instrumental brilliance these musicians are capable of creating. Another disappointment is the album's gloomy mood - it's all minor-key angst from start to finish. A lot of people think that for Rock to be heavy it must also be malevolent, if not foaming-at-the-mouth evil. Which I think is a big mistake, if you think of "Genesis"-era Light Bringer, "Apartment"-era Doll$Boxx, the ShakaLabbits' entire catalog, and early bands like UFO, the Scorpions and Rush. Yes, heavy Rock can also be positive and uplifting. But even with positive lyrics on this disc, the music itself is just... gloomy. Also disappointing is the fact that Ayasa does nothing unusual with her violin voicing. When she's doing virtuoso jamming, as in her incredible call-response duel with Yuki in the "Evolve Extended Version," a thin tone doesn't matter as much, but otherwise it just sounds... elderly. My instant comparison is to Billy Currie's viola in Ultravox. His varied voicings range from a deep, haunting hugeness that can actually be a bit scary (like in "Mr. X,") to a virtual synth, like a sonic paintbrush. Ayasa sticks to a thin, conventional violin voicing - and without the shredding like she and Yuki did in "Evolve," the violin voicing is a little tepid. These are well-constructed songs, don't get me wrong. There are good, punchy rockers like "Breaker" and "Doesn't Matter" and the power ballad "I Don't Say Goodbye." But they're gloomy without reprieve, and if you're looking for blockbuster instrumental virtuosity as in "Evolve Extended Version," you'll be as disappointed as I am.